Public Draft - June 2023
June 2023 Table of Contents | i
Table of Contents
SNAPSHOT .............................................................................................................................................. S-1 Fremont’s Vision ......................................................................................................................................................... S-2 Plan-at-a-Glance ......................................................................................................................................................... S-5 How to Read This Plan ............................................................................................................................................ S-13 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 1-1 Vision for Climate Ready Fremont ....................................................................................................................... 1-1 Purpose and Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 1-2 Fremont’s Climate Leadership ............................................................................................................................... 1-4 Climate Ready Fremont Co-Benefits ................................................................................................................... 1-8 Climate Mitigation and Adaptation ..................................................................................................................... 1-8 Community Engagement and Public Outreach............................................................................................. 1-10 What Comes Next .................................................................................................................................................... 1-11 CHAPTER 2. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS INVENTORY, FORECASTS, & TARGETS ..................... 2-1 Determining a Baseline for Emissions Reductions ......................................................................................... 2-1 Emissions Reductions Achieved withing First CAP ........................................................................................ 2-6 Forecasting Future Emissions ................................................................................................................................. 2-7 California Climate Legislation and Regulations .............................................................................................. 2-9 Establishing Emissions Reductions Targets .................................................................................................... 2-11 Achieving Emissions Reductions Targets......................................................................................................... 2-11 CHAPTER 3. CLIMATE READY STRATEGIES & MEASURES ................................................................. 3-1 Introduction to Strategies and Measures .......................................................................................................... 3-1 GHG Emissions Reduction Quantification Analysis ........................................................................................ 3-2 Organization of Focus Area Sections .................................................................................................................. 3-5 Focus Area 1: Buildings and Energy..................................................................................................................... 3-6 Focus Area 2: Infrastructure and Equipment .................................................................................................. 3-20 Focus Area 3: Land Use and Mobility ................................................................................................................ 3-32 Focus Area 4: Materials and Waste .................................................................................................................... 3-41 Focus Area 5: Nat ural and Urban Landscapes ............................................................................................... 3-46 Focus Area 6: Adaptation and Resiliency......................................................................................................... 3-53 Focus Area 7: Green Economy ............................................................................................................................. 3-64 Focus Area 8: Public Participation and Engagement .................................................................................. 3-73 CHAPTER 4. CLIMATE READY FREMONT IMPLEMENTATION & MONITORING .............................. 4-1 Implementation Strategy ......................................................................................................................................... 4-1 The “Game Plan” ......................................................................................................................................................... 4-3 California Environmental Quality Act Streamlining ....................................................................................... 4-9 Monitoring and Updates ......................................................................................................................................... 4-9 Ongoing Community Engagement .................................................................................................................... 4-10 Potential Funding Sources .................................................................................................................................... 4-11
June 2023 Table of Contents | ii
APPENDICES
Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Forecast Memo ............................................................................ Appendix A Measure List and Greenhouse Gas Quantification Memo .......................................................... Appendix B Municipal GHG Inventory, Forecasts, and Measure Quantification Memo .......................... Appendix C
FIGURES
Figure S-1: Post-Carbon Framework Key Strategies .................................................................................... S-2 Figure S-2: Climate Ready Fremont Scenario by Sector Compared to Reduction Targets ........... S-3 Figure S-3: Climate Ready Fremont Co-Benefits ........................................................................................... S-4 Figure 1-1: Greenhouse Gas Effect ..................................................................................................................... 1-2 Figure 1-2: Climate Ready Fremont Co-Benefits ........................................................................................... 1-8 Figure 1-3: Relationship between Climate Mitigation and Adaptation ................................................ 1-9 Figure 1-4: Community Engagement Participants and Groups ............................................................. 1-10 Figure 1-5: Community Engagement Feedback .......................................................................................... 1-11 Figure 2-1: Fremont 2018 Community GHG Emissions Inventory by Percentage ............................ 2-5 Figure 2-2: Fremont 2018 Community GHG Emissions Equivalencies .................................................. 2-5 Figure 2-3: Comparison of Fremont Community GHG Emissions Inventories ................................... 2-7 Figure 2-4: Fremont Community GHG Emissions by Sector – “No Local Action Scenario” Forecast ................................................................................................................................................ 2-12 Figure 2-5: Fremont Community “Local Emissions Gap” ......................................................................... 2-12 Figure 3-1: Hierarchy of Strategies, Measures, and Actions for Climate Ready Fremont .............. 3-2 Figure 3-2: Climate Ready Fremont Scenario and Targets Compared to “No Local Action Scenario” ................................................................................................................................................ 3-4 Figure 3-3: Climate Ready Fremont Scenario by Sector Compared to Reduction Targets ........... 3-4
TABLES
Table S-1: Climate Ready Fremont Plan-at-a-Glance ................................................................................... S-5 Table 2-1: Fremont Community GHG Emissions Inventory Sectors ....................................................... 2-3 Table 2-2:
Fremont 2018 Community GHG Emissions Inventory ............................................................ 2-4 Table 2-3: Fremont Community GHG Emissions Inventories .................................................................... 2-6 Table 2-4: City of Fremont Demographic Forecasts .................................................................................... 2-8 Table 2-5: Fremont 2018 Baseline Inventory and No Local Action Forecast .................................... 2-10 Table 2-6: City of Fremont GHG Emissions Reduction Targets and “No Local Action Scenario” Summary ........................................................................................................................... 2-12 Table 3-1: Fremont Community GHG Emissions Quantification Analysis ............................................ 3-3 Table 4-1: Climate Ready Fremont Game Plan ............................................................................................... 4-4 June 2023 List of Abbreviations | iii
List of Abbreviations
°C degrees Celsius
°F degrees Fahrenheit
AB California Assembly Bill
ABAG Association of Bay Area Governments
AC Transit Alameda County Transit
ACCMA Alameda County Congestion Management Agency
ACE Altamont Corridor Express
ACFCWCD Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District Alameda CTC Alameda County Transportation Commission
ACWD Alameda County Water District
ADU accessory dwelling unit
AMI advanced water metering
APBP Association of Pedestrians and Bicycle Professionals ATP Active Transportation Plan
BAAQMD Bay Area Air Quality Management District
BART Bay Area Rapid Transit
BayREN Bay Area Regional Energy Network
BC3 Business Council on Climate Change
BCDC Bay Conservation and Development Commission
BDC Building Decarbonization Coalition
BIL Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (also known as IIJA)
C&D construction and demolition
CALGreen California Green Building Standards Code
CalOES California Governor’s Office of Emergence Services CAP Climate Action Plan
CARB California Air Resources Board
CCI California Climate Investments
CDP Carbon Disclosure Project
CEC California Energy Commission
June 2023 List of Abbreviations | iv
CEQA California Environmental Quality Act
CIP Capital Improvement Program
City City of Fremont
CLEEN California Lending for Energy and Environmental Needs CMO City Manager’s Office
CO2 carbon dioxide
CO2e carbon dioxide equivalent
CORE California Clean Off-Road Equipment Program
CPUC California Public Utilities Commission
DAC disadvantaged community
DOE United States Department of Energy
DOT United States Department of Transportation
EBCE East Bay Community Energy
EBRPD East Bay Regional Park District
ECAA Energy Conservation Assistance Act
EO Executive Order
EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency
EV electric vehicle
FCEV fuel cell electric vehicle
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
FMC Fremont Municipal Code
FUSD Fremont Unified School District
GCC Green Cities California
GCoM Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy
GHG greenhouse gas
GSI Green Stormwater Infrastructure
IBank California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank ICARP Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability
June 2023 List of Abbreviations | v
IIJA Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (also known as BIL) IPCC United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IRA Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
kWh kilowatt hour
LCFS Low Carbon Fuel Standard
LED light emitting diode
LHMP Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
LOS level of service
MAP Mobility Action Plan
MRP Municipal Regional Stormwater National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit
MTC Metropolitan Transportation Commission
MTCO
2e metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent
NACTO National Association of City Transportation Officials NEM net energy metering
OBF On-Bill Financing
ORRO Organics Reduction & Recycling Ordinance
PACE Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing
PDA Priority Development Area
PG&E Pacific Gas and Energy Company
PSPS Public Safety Power Shutoff
RCI Recycling Certification Institute
REC Renewable Energy Certificate
RSCO Rising Sun Center for Opportunity
RtZ Race to Zero Campaign
SB California Senate Bill
SFBACP San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy Program
June 2023 List of Abbreviations | vi
SFBJV San Francisco Bay Joint Venture
SFBRA San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority
SFEI San Francisco Estuary Institute
SFPUC San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
SOMAH California Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing Program SOV single occupancy vehicle
SRTS Safe Routes to School
STEM science, technology, engineering, and math
TDM transportation demand management
TMA Transportation Management Association
TOD transit-oriented development
UNFCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change USD Union Sanitary District
USDN Urban Sustainability Directors Network
VMT vehicle miles traveled
VNEM virtual net energy metering
VTA Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
WELO Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance
WUI wildland-urban interface
ZEV zero emission vehicle
ZNE zero net energy
June 2023 Glossary of Terms | vii
Glossary of Terms
Anaerobic digestion A process through which bacteria break down organic matter—such as animal manure, wastewater biosolids, and food wastes—in the absence of oxygen.
Bay-Friendly Landscaping Bay-Friendly Landscaping is a holistic approach to landscaping that works with the natural conditions of the San Francisco Bay Watershed. Now embodied by ReScape California’s Eight Principles for Regenerative Landscapes, Bay-Friendly Landscaping fosters soil health, conserves water, sequesters carbon and protects valuable resources while reducing waste and preventing pollution.
Biogas The gaseous product of anaerobic digestion, primarily consisting of methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and hydrogen (H2) gas.
Carbon intensity / The carbon footprint per unit (such as lbs/CO2 per kWh of electricity); carbon-intensive having a high carbon footprint in relation to a product’s economic importance.
Carbon sequestration The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide into a carbon pool. There are three types of carbon sequestration: biological (in vegetation such as grasslands or forests, as well as in soils and ocean), geological (in underground geologic formations, i.e. rocks), and technological (through graphene production, direct air capture, and engineered molecules).
Circular economy An economic system based on the reuse and regeneration of materials or products, especially as a means of continuing production in a sustainable or environmentally friendly way
Climate change adaptation Adjustments in ecological, social, or economic systems in response to the current or expected effects of climate change.
Climate change mitigation Reduction or removal of greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere to prevent the planet from warming to more extreme temperatures.
Climate change resilience The ability to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from hazardous events, trends, or disturbances related to climate.
Climate equity Ensures the just distribution of the benefits of climate protection efforts and alleviates unequal burdens created by climate change.
Climate hazard overlay zone Applies an additional layer of standards to all areas within a defined overlay boundary that have been identified by future climate change impact models as being at risk for future flooding, erosion, landslides, increase wildfire risk, or severe storm/high wind events, regardless of the underlying base zoning district.
June 2023 Glossary of Terms | viii
Climate-smart An integrated approach to planning and management that focuses on mitigating the impacts of climate change through GHG emissions reductions as well as adapting to the effects of climate change while at the same time enhancing economic development, ecological preservation, and social well-being.
Complete streets Standards or policies that ensure the safe and adequate accommodation of all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, personal conveyance and micromobility users, public transportation users, children, older individuals, individuals with disabilities, motorists, and freight vehicles.
Consumption-based Accounts for upstream emissions of Scope 1 and Scope 2 (see definition GHG inventory for Production-based GHG inventory) as well as downstream emissions of Scope 3 (indirect emissions related to goods and services that are consumed within a defined geographic territory, regardless of where they are produced).
Decarbonization The reduction or elimination of carbon dioxide emissions from a process such as manufacturing or the production of energy.
Electrification The process of replacing systems that use fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) with ones that use electricity as a source of power.
Embodied carbon The GHG emissions associated with the manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building materials.
Green infrastructure The range of measures that use plant or soil systems, permeable pavement or other permeable surfaces or substrates, stormwater harvest and reuse, or landscaping to store, infiltrate, or evapotranspirate stormwater and reduce flows to sewer systems or to surface waters.
Heavy duty vehicle Vehicles with a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) greater than 26,000 pounds. Includes weight classes 7 and 8.
Just transition The transition from an extractive economy that is dependent on harvest or extraction of finite natural resources at a rate faster than the capacity of that system to regenerate to a regenerative economy based on the three pillars of ecological restoration, community resilience, and social equity that creates ever greater capacity for life without diminishing capital.
Last mile commute Refers to the transportation method used during the final distance traveled to work, school, or an event, typically when public transit is the primary mode of transportation, but the system does not completely reach the desired destination.
Life Cycle Assessment A method used to evaluate the environmental impact over the course of an entire lifecycle of a product, material, process, or other measurable activity. The stages of a life cycle include 1) raw material sourcing and extraction, 2) manufacturing, processing, and assembly, 3) packaging, June 2023 Glossary of Terms | ix
transportation and distribution, 4) usage and retail, and 5) waste disposal, recycling, and resource recovery.
Light duty vehicle Vehicles with a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) under 10,000 pounds.
Includes weight classes 1 and 2.
Low-stress bicycle network A continuous, comprehensive bicycle network that serves all ages and abilities and is particularly designed for those who tolerate a very low level of traffic stress, such as children, seniors, and those who may be new to biking and do not want to ride in traffic.
Medium duty vehicle Vehicles with a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) between 10,001 – 26,000 pounds. Includes weight classes 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Microgrid A local electrical grid with defined electrical boundaries, acting as a single and controllable entity, and with the ability to operate in grid-connected and in island mode.
Micromobility Any small, low-speed, human- or electric-powered transportation device, including bicycles, scooters, electric-assist bicycles, electric scooters (e- scooters), and other small, lightweight, wheeled conveyances.
Mode share The percentage of travelers using a particular type of transportation, such as by bicycle, by private vehicle (car, truck, taxicab, van, motorcycle), by public transportation (bus, rail, ferry), and by foot.
Natural gas Naturally occurring mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons consisting primarily of methane (CH4) in addition to various smaller amounts of other higher alkanes. Each therm of natural gas consumed emits 11.72 lbs of CO2e. (also known as fossil gas or methane gas)
Production-based The standard inventory utilized by local government agencies, it estimates GHG inventory GHG emissions generated within a defined geographic boundary during a single year. Production-based inventories take into account upstream emissions of Scope 1 (direct emissions from owned or controlled sources) and Scope 2 (indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy).
Resilience hub A community-serving facility augmented to support residents and coordinate resource distribution and services before, during, or after a natural hazard event.
Urban heat island effect A phenomenon whereby urban areas experience higher air temperatures than surrounding non-urban areas due to dense concentrations of pavement, buildings, and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat.
Trees, green roofs, and vegetation can help reduce urban heat island effects by shading building surfaces, deflecting radiation from the sun, and releasing moisture into the atmosphere.
Snapshot | June 2023 S-1
Snapshot
Centrally located and serving as the eastern anchor of the Bay Area and Silicon Valley, Fremont is the fourth largest city in the Bay Area and prides itself on being a vibrant and strategically urban community. Previously an agricultural area comprised of five small townships, Fremont has developed into a technological and advanced manufacturing hub that captures modern living at its best and boasts one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse populations in the Bay Area.
The City of Fremont (City) has long been a leader in sustainability. Fremont was one of the first cities to incorporate sustainability in its General Plan in a significant way: sustainability serves as the first element and the central theme throughout the General Plan and puts forth a vision for Fremont to “serve as a national model of how an auto-oriented suburb can evolve into a sustainable, strategically urban, modern city.” The City’s 2012 Climate Action Plan (CAP) established a roadmap for achieving the sustainability vision of the General Plan through the implementation of local measures that together would reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25 percent from a 2005 baseline level by the year 2020.
Adoption of the first CAP accelerated the City’s efforts related to energy and water use efficiency, renewable energy deployment, clean and multimodal transportation infrastructure, waste reduction and pollution prevention, and sustainable land use planning. Through a combination of the City’s local implementation efforts paired with technology advancements and state and federal policy changes, the City achieved its 25 percent GHG reduction goal by 2018. Recognizing the need to update its GHG target, in 2019, the City adopted a Carbon Neutrality Resolution for Fremont to achieve a 55 percent GHG emission reduction from a 2005 baseline level by the year 2030 and to become a carbon neutral city no later than 2045.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future
Snapshot | June 2023 S-2
Fremont’s Vision
As part of the Carbon Neutrality Resolution, the City developed a Post-Carbon Framework to guide an update to the City’s first Climate Action Plan. This document, titled Climate Ready Fremont, serves as the City’s new plan for becoming a carbon neutral community.
The Post-Carbon Framework establishes the following guiding values that serve as the foundation of Climate Ready Fremont:
• Equity & Access: Ensure that all people have the opportunity to benefit equally from climate solutions, while not taking on an unequal burden of climate impacts. • Efficiency & Innovation: Promote the efficient use of resources and the adoption of clean and climate-smart technologies and techniques.
• Health & Wellness: Safeguard and enhance the ability of the community to live, work, play, connect, and thrive in a healthy social and physical environment. • Resiliency & Capacity-Building: Provide education and training on the opportunities offered by a more resilient future and encourage sustainable behaviors across all sectors of the community.
In addition, the Post-Carbon Framework identifies seven key strategies that are incorporated throughout Climate Ready Fremont. The strategies are shown in Figure S-1.
Figure S-1: Post-Carbon Framework Key Strategies
Source: Ascent Environmental, 2023
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future
Snapshot | June 2023 S-3
Purpose of Climate Ready Fremont
Climate Ready Fremont has two overarching objectives:
The plan presents mitigation and adaptation strategies, measures, and actions that, in combination, aim to achieve an interim GHG reduction target of 55 percent by 2030 (from a 2005 baseline year) as well as prepare the City for climatic changes that are already underway.
The measures presented in Climate Ready Fremont have been analyzed to quantify their GHG emission reduction potential for the target years 2030 and 2045. Figure S-2 shows the community emissions by sector for 2018 and the GHG emission reductions to be achieved by Climate Ready Fremont measures.
Figure S-2 displays the City’s achievement of the 2030 target with the GHG reduction measures and demonstrates progress towards the City’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045.
Figure S-2: Climate Ready Fremont Scenario by Sector Compared to Reduction Targets
Source: Ascent Environmental, 2023
1) to reduce GHG emissions from
local activities to achieve GHG
reduction targets
2) to build community resilience
to prepare for and adapt to the
impacts of climate change
Public Transit
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future
Snapshot | June 2023 S-4
It is important to note that some of the measures within Climate Ready Fremont have not been quantified due to lack of available data or quantification methods. In addition, some measures do not directly reduce GHG emissions, but rather are incorporated into Climate Ready Fremont due to their ability to help Fremont adapt and become more resilient to the effects of climate change.
Furthermore, while Climate Ready Fremont is primarily geared towards reducing GHG emissions and addressing climate change-related vulnerabilities within the City, its implementation will also result in numerous “co-benefits” to residents and businesses such as equity, air pollution prevention, benefits to health and well-being, increased infrastructure reliability, enhanced community resilience, local economic benefits, and resource preservation (Figure S-3). For example, the measure to transition to 100 percent clean power consumption will not only achieve a reduction in community GHGs, it will also reduce air pollution through the use of clean technologies, thereby also improving the health and well- being of community members. In addition, it will improve community resilience through reducing dependence on fossil fuels and improve equity by ensuring that all community members have access to clean power.
Figure S-3: Climate Ready Fremont Co-Benefits
Source: Ascent Environmental, 2023
The Climate Ready Fremont mitigation and adaptation strategies are organized into eight focus areas:
Buildings and Energy, Infrastructure and Equipment, Land Use and Mobility, Materials and Waste, Natural and Urban Landscapes, Health and Resiliency, Green Economy, and Public Participation and Engagement. Each focus area presents strategies that serve as the foundation for reducing GHG emissions and advancing climate resiliency in Fremont. Climate Ready Fremont strategies and measures are outlined in the Plan-at-a-Glance section on the next page.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future Snapshot | June 2023 S-5
Plan-at-a-Glance
The following table provides a summary of the Climate Ready Fremont strategies and measures developed for each of the eight focus areas. For quantified community-level measures, the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction potential is displayed. The “Quantified Community GHG Reduction” graphic represents the percentage of emissions reduction expected from a particular measure compared to the total calculated emissions reduction of 295,054 MTCO2e for Fremont by the year 2030. Additional details regarding the strategies and measures are provided in Chapter 3 and specific implementation actions are presented in Chapter 4.
Table S-1: Climate Ready Fremont Plan-at-a-Glance
STRATEGY MEASURE
QUANTIFIED
COMMUNITY GHG
REDUCTION
BUILDINGS AND ENERGY
1. Clean and
Renewable Power
Use
Measure BU-1: Transition to 100 percent clean electricity consumption.
2. Building
Electrification
and Low-Carbon
Design
Measure BU-2: Require new residential construction to be all electric and low carbon.
Measure BU-3: Require new nonresidential construction to be zero net energy and low carbon.
Measure BU-4: Retrofit existing residential buildings to be all electric and low carbon.
Measure BU-5: Retrofit existing nonresidential buildings to be all electric and low carbon.
Measure BU-6: Require new City buildings to be all electric and low carbon. GHG reduction captured within Measure BU-3
Measure BU-7: Retrofit existing City buildings to be all electric and low carbon
GHG reduction captured
within Measure BU-5
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future Snapshot | June 2023 S-6
STRATEGY MEASURE
QUANTIFIED
COMMUNITY GHG
REDUCTION
3. Building
Energy Efficiency
and Demand
Management
Measure BU-8: Reduce energy consumption in buildings and operations. — Measure BU-9: Promote building energy tracking and performance assessment. —
Measure BU-10: Reduce overall demand on the electrical grid. —
4. Building
Energy Resilience
Measure BU-11: Increase the development of microgrids at emergency facilities. —
Measure BU-12: Expand local clean backup power availability. —
5. Water
Conservation in
Buildings
Measure BU-13: Reduce water consumption in buildings.
Measure BU-14: Increase the capture of rainwater and use of greywater.
6. Waste
Reduction in
Building
Construction and
Demolition
Measure BU-15: Increase sustainable materials use and recovery in construction and demolition (C&D). —
INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT
1. Clean and
Renewable Power
Infrastructure
Measure IN-1: Upgrade infrastructure to support the transition to 100 percent clean power.
GHG reduction captured
within Measure BU-1
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future Snapshot | June 2023 S-7
STRATEGY MEASURE
QUANTIFIED
COMMUNITY GHG
REDUCTION
2. Clean Freight
and Delivery
Infrastructure
Measure IN-2: Promote clean and efficient movement of goods. GHG reduction captured within Measure IN-3
3. Clean Mobility
Infrastructure
Measure IN-3: Install infrastructure to support electric vehicle (EV) charging and other zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) fueling needs.
Measure IN-4: Increase the use of smart mobility and modernize transportation infrastructure as identified in the City’s Mobility Action Plan.
Measure IN-5: Improve pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure as identified in previous City plans and in the new Active Transportation Plan.
Measure IN-6: Replace the City’s gasoline and diesel-powered fleet vehicles and other equipment with low-emission and zero-emission vehicles.
GHG Reduction captured
within Measure IN-3
4. Critical
Infrastructure
Protection
Measure IN-7: Improve energy infrastructure resilience. —
Measure IN-8: Improve water and wastewater infrastructure resilience. — Measure IN-9: Protect vulnerable transportation infrastructure, services, and systems from climate change impacts. —
Measure IN-10: Assess local climate vulnerabilities to climate change and incorporate climate adaptation and resiliency into City planning, policies, and infrastructure projects.
—
5. Clean
Landscaping and
Off-Road
Equipment
Measure IN-11: Reduce emissions and air pollution associated with landscaping equipment.
Measure IN-12: Reduce emissions and air pollution associated with diesel fuel use in off-road equipment and stationary sources.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future Snapshot | June 2023 S-8
STRATEGY MEASURE
QUANTIFIED
COMMUNITY GHG
REDUCTION
LAND USE AND MOBILITY
1. Clean and
Multimodal
Mobility and
Connectivity
Measure LU-1: Promote and enhance active transportation options as identified in the City’s Active Transportation Plan and Mobility Action Plan.
GHG reduction captured
within Measure IN-5
Measure LU-2: Reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and single-occupancy vehicle trips, as identified in the General Plan.
Measure LU-3: Encourage the adoption of zero-emission passenger vehicles. GHG reduction captured within Measure IN-3
Measure LU-4: Increase transit ridership and promote transition to zero- emissions transit.
Measure LU-5: Increase implementation of Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies as identified in the General Plan.
Measure LU-6: Reduce the amount of parking to encourage transit-oriented development (TOD) as identified in the General Plan.
2. Sustainable
Land Use
Planning
Measure LU-7: Apply smart growth and low-carbon land use development principles. —
Measure LU-8: Incorporate climate vulnerabilities in land use planning. —
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future Snapshot | June 2023 S-9
MATERIALS AND WASTE
1. Materials
Reuse and Plastic
Waste Reduction
Measure MW-1: Promote responsible consumption of products and materials and reduce disposable packaging use. —
Measure MW-2: Encourage repair, reuse, and upcycling of materials. —
2. Managing
Recycling and
Organics
Measure MW-3: Bolster recovery of organic and recyclable materials and increase landfill diversion rates.
Measure MW-4: Support methane recovery and reuse from organic sources. — Measure MW-5: Establish and advance zero waste targets and policies. GHG reduction captured within Measure MW-3
NATURAL AND URBAN LANDSCAPES
1. Carbon
Sequestration
Measure NL-1: Increase soil carbon content.
—
Measure NL-2: Increase the carbon sequestration potential of the City’s bayfront and bayland areas. —
Measure NL-3: Implement the City’s Urban Forest Management Plan.
2. Green
Infrastructure
Measure NL-4: Expand and protect green infrastructure and biodiversity. —
3. Water
Conservation in
Landscapes
Measure NL-5: Reduce water usage for irrigation and landscaping.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future Snapshot | June 2023 S-10
4. Habitat
Restoration and
Biodiversity
Measure NL-6: Conserve and protect natural habitats, ecosystems, and wildlife corridors impacted by climate change. —
Measure NL-7: Restore, rehabilitate, and repurpose degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems through active interventions to enhance the natural adaptive capacity of biological communities.
—
Measure NL-8: Prioritize nature-based solutions to improve coastal and watershed resilience while promoting biodiversity. —
ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCY
1. Extreme Heat
Mitigation
Measure AR-1: Adopt heat island reduction design guidelines. —
Measure AR-2: Protect populations vulnerable to extreme heat and poor air quality. —
2. Wildfire Risk
Reduction
Measure AR-3: Reduce the wildland-urban interface (WUI) fire risk. —
3. Flood Risk
Reduction
Measure AR-4: Minimize risks to life and property resulting from flooding and flood induced hazards. —
Measure AR-5: Reduce flood and drought risk through integrated watershed management. —
4. Sea Level Rise
Preparedness
Measure AR-6: Evaluate proposed development in areas of the City subject to flooding impacts caused by rising sea levels. —
Measure AR-7: Protect existing development from sea level rise impacts. — Measure AR-8: Minimize risks to life and property resulting from flooding caused by sea level rise. —
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future Snapshot | June 2023 S-11
5. Emergency
Preparedness
and Disaster
Response
Measure AR-9: Revise emergency management plans, programs, and activities. —
Measure AR-10: Ensure emergency management activities are conducted equitably. —
Measure AR-11: Improve notification systems for natural hazards to reach the most vulnerable community members. —
6. Community
Resilience
Measure AR-12: Establish resilience hubs. —
Measure AR-13: Improve food security. —
GREEN ECONOMY
1. Green
Businesses and
Jobs
Measure GE-1: Support and encourage circular economy innovation and business leadership in Fremont. —
Measure GE-2: Incentivize and promote green business practices. — Measure GE-3: Support green jobs in the City. —
2. Climate Equity
Measure GE-4: Increase the resiliency of low-income or otherwise vulnerable housing. —
Measure GE-5: Ensure an equitable transition to 100 percent clean power. GHG reduction captured within Measure BU-1
3. Climate-
Friendly
Purchasing,
Budgeting, and
Financing
Measure GE-6: Incorporate sustainability best practices into City purchasing decisions and City contracts. —
Measure GE-7: Modify the City’s capital planning and budgeting processes to incorporate priorities established by Climate Ready Fremont. — Measure GE-8: Establish financial mechanisms and pursue outside funding sources to support the implementation of Climate Ready Fremont. —
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future Snapshot | June 2023 S-12
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT
1. Access to
Nature and
Environmental
Stewardship
Measure PE-1: Ensure availability and accessibility to healthy, natural spaces and safe outdoor recreation opportunities for all community members. — Measure PE-2: Encourage residents and community members to act as environmental stewards. —
2. Climate Action
Engagement
Measure PE-3: Encourage community participation and ownership of Climate Ready Fremont. —
Measure PE-4: Increase public awareness and participation in climate planning, with a focus on equity and inclusion. —
3. Climate
Tracking and
Reporting
Measure PE-5: Track climate and sustainability metrics accurately and transparently for the community. —
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future
Snapshot | June 2023 S-13
How to Read This Plan
Climate Ready Fremont is divided into four main chapters plus appendices as follows:
Chapter 1 introduces the City’s vision, outlines the objectives and organization of the plan, and describes existing legislation and efforts aimed at addressing climate change.
Chapter 2 summarizes the City’s baseline greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, presents a forecast of future emissions, and identifies the City’s emissions reduction targets.
Chapter 3 is organized into eight focus areas: Buildings and Energy, Infrastructure and Equipment, Land Use and Mobility, Materials and Waste, Natural and Urban Landscapes, Adaptation and Resiliency, Green Economy, and Public Participation and Engagement. Each focus area contains strategies that serve as the foundation to help the City achieve its climate goals. Within each strategy are one or more measures that represent specific expressions of the broad strategies. Climate change mitigation and adaptation objectives are intertwined throughout the strategies and measures. Actions at both the community-scale as well as actions specific to City operations are included beneath each measure that define the activities, projects, programs, or policies that the City will implement or support to advance its GHG reduction and adaptation goals.
Chapter 4 presents the “Game Plan,” a list of short-term priority actions intended to be implemented within the first 3 years of the plan’s adoption. Chapter 4 also discusses CEQA streamlining with the plan for future development projects, presents intentions for ongoing monitoring and reporting of the plan, and highlights some of the funding mechanisms available for plan implementation.
Appendices include further information on GHG emissions inventories and forecasts and Climate Ready Fremont measure list quantification.
Snapshot | June 2023 S-13
June 2023 Introduction | 1-1
Introduction
Climate change is a threat to human well-being and planetary health...The choices and actions implemented in this decade will have impacts now and for thousands of years.1 Vision for Climate Ready Fremont
The City of Fremont (hereafter referred to as “City”) has long been a leader in sustainability. In 2008, the Fremont City Council adopted the City’s first municipal and communitywide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goal of 25 percent from a 2005 baseline level by the year 2020, a goal memorialized with the adoption of the General Plan in 2011. Fremont was one of the first cities to incorporate sustainability in its General Plan: sustainability serves as the first element and the central theme throughout the General Plan and puts forth a vision for Fremont to “serve as a national model of how an auto-oriented suburb can evolve into a sustainable, strategically urban, modern city.” The City adopted its first Climate Action Plan (CAP) in November 2012 which identified actions to meet the City’s GHG emissions reduction goal of 25 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. Since then, the City has significantly reduced its GHG emissions while continuing to experience population and economic growth. In early 2019, the City Council adopted a resolution to achieve carbon neutrality no later than 2045 and established an interim target to reduce GHG emissions 55 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.
Climate Ready Fremont is an update to the first CAP and establishes a roadmap for achieving the GHG emission reduction targets envisioned by the City Council. The plan identifies sustainable and adaptive infrastructure, technologies, policies, and programs that the City will implement to address climate change, improve quality of life, promote equity, and bolster resiliency across the community.
1 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 2023 (March). AR6 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2023: Summary for Policy Makers.
Available: https://report.ipcc.ch/ar6syr/pdf/IPCC_AR6_SYR_SPM.pdf. Accessed March 30, 2023. “ ”
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 1-2
Vision for Climate Ready Fremont
Fremont is a healthy, safe, and livable climate ready community that provides for economic and social opportunity across all ages, cultures, and abilities through equitable, resilient, and adaptive technologies, infrastructure, policies, and programs.
Purpose and Objectives
The combustion of fossil fuels and other human-caused activities since the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century have introduced GHGs into the atmosphere at an increasingly accelerated rate. These significantly elevated levels of GHGs above natural ambient concentrations have intensified the greenhouse effect, illustrated in Figure 1-1, and have resulted in an impact known as global climate change.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Working Group Report – AR6 Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis, released in August 2021, finds that human activities are estimated to have caused over 2 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) of warming across the globe compared to pre-industrial era levels (i.e., before 1900), and global average temperature is expected to increase by up to approximately 8 °F by the end of the century unless additional efforts to reduce GHG emissions are made.
2 As communities throughout California continue to experience rising average temperatures, more severe storms, and intense drought, it has become evident that the effects of global climate change are already occurring.
2 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 2021 (August). AR6 Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis: Summary for Policy Makers. Available: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGI_SPM.pdf. Accessed October 1, 2021.
Figure 1-1: Greenhouse Gas Effect
Source: Ascent Environmental, 2023
June 2023 Introduction | 1-3
Primary Objectives of Climate Ready Fremont
Local governments have an important role to play in reducing GHG emissions and preparing for the impacts of climate change in their communities. Climate Ready Fremont establishes locally based strategies, measures, and actions that will serve to achieve these objectives and simultaneously enhance the quality of life for residents, businesses, employees, and visitors of Fremont.
Guiding Values and Key Strategies
Alongside the adoption of the 2045 carbon neutrality target, the City established a “post-carbon community” framework of key values and strategies to guide the update of the CAP. Climate Ready Fremont has therefore been developed in alignment with the following values:
Climate Ready Fremont is intended to provide
a pathway for the City to achieve two primary
objectives:
1) to reduce GHG emissions from local
activities to achieve GHG reduction targets
2) to build community resilience to prepare
for and adapt to the impacts of climate
change
Equity & Access:
Ensure that all people have the
opportunity to benefit equally from
climate solutions, while not taking
on an unequal burden of climate
impacts.
Health & Wellness:
Safeguard and enhance the ability of
the community to live, work, play,
connect, and thrive in a healthy
social and physical environment.
Efficiency & Innovation:
Promote the efficient use of
resources and the adoption of clean
and climate-smart technologies and
techniques.
Resiliency & Capacity-Building:
Provide education and training on
the opportunities offered by a more
resilient future and encourage
sustainable behaviors across all
sectors of the community.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 1-4 In addition, the framework identifies the following seven key strategies for achieving carbon neutrality.
These have been directly incorporated into Climate Ready Fremont’s list of GHG reduction strategies and measures:
Clean & Renewable Power: Deploy and efficiently use clean, renewable, and locally sourced electricity generated on site or transmitted through the power grid. • Electrification & Fossil Fuel Phase-Out: Upgrade and replace carbon-intensive, fossil fuel-based infrastructure and combustion power throughout the transportation and building sectors with clean electric power.
• Carbon Sequestration: Drawdown carbon dioxide and other GHGs from the atmosphere through ecological and/or technological methods and capture and store in plants, soils, water systems, and other solid forms.
• Mobility & Connectivity: Develop and enhance safe, multimodal, accessible, equitable, intelligent, and clean motorized and non-motorized travel options, transit modes, transportation infrastructure, and community connectivity.
• Resource Conservation & Elimination of Waste: Conserve natural and manufactured resources by means of the responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials.
• Restorative Ecology & Green Infrastructure: Restore, rehabilitate, and repurpose degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems and habitats through active interventions. Incorporate green infrastructure and ecosystem services into community design. • Climate Adaptation & Resilience: Prepare for, limit, learn from, and adapt to the negative effects of climate change through proactive and holistic planning and response at infrastructural, cultural, and institutional levels.
Fremont’s Climate Leadership
The City continues to lead in climate action and
sustainability initiatives and has been recognized by a number of institutions. In 2021, Fremont was selected as a Beacon Vanguard Platinum Award winner by the
California Institute for Local Government (one of only five cities in California to have ever received the award at the time). The City was selected for exceptional achievements in the following categories: community GHG reductions,
agency GHG reductions, agency energy savings, agency
natural gas savings, and sustainability best practices. The City was also honored as a 2021 Beacon Leadership and
Innovation Award winner for using innovation to promote clean energy in Fremont with the Fire Station Microgrid Demonstration Project.
June 2023 Introduction | 1-5
Other relevant awards and recognitions Fremont has received include:
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Power Partner since 2015 for clean and renewable electricity use in City operations
• SolSmart Gold Designee with a "Special Award for Excellence in Permitting” in 2016 for programs and processes that encourage local solar market growth • American Public Works Association (APWA) Award for Exceptional Performance in 2018 for implementing a comprehensive energy and water efficiency upgrade project at City facilities • CDP Cities “A List” Recognition in the years 2018, 2019, and 2021 for climate implementation and reporting efforts
In addition, the City has made several commitments to combat climate change including:
• Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) – a global alliance for city climate leadership with a long-term vision of supporting voluntary action to combat climate change; Fremont achieved the GCoM Compliant badge in
2021
• We Are Still In – a joint declaration of support for climate action to meet the Paris Agreement that was signed by more than 3,900 CEOs, mayors, governors, college presidents, and others
• Race to Zero (RtZ) Campaign – a global campaign through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change to rally leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, and investors for a healthy, resilient, zero carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs, and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth
The City recognizes that the need for climate action throughout the region and nation requires coordination amongst different jurisdictions and across sectors. The City works in regular coordination and collaboration with a number of local and regional entities, including: Alameda County Waste Management Authority/Alameda County Source Reduction and Recycling Board/Energy Council (operating as StopWaste), Alameda County Water District (ACWD), Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC), Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN), East Bay Community Energy (EBCE), Fremont Unified School District (FUSD), Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)/Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), and Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E).
City representatives also actively participate in statewide and national networks and membership agencies dedicated to climate action—such as the Building Decarbonization Coalition (BDC), Climate Mayors, the Electrification Coalition, Green Cities California (GCC), ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN), and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)—to advance best practices, share resources, and scale impact.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 1-6 City Actions, Plans, and Resolutions
As demonstrated by recent awards and recognitions, the City values sustainability and the importance of climate action and adaptation planning. The following actions, plans, and resolutions address climate change and GHG emissions and support Climate Ready Fremont.
2008
Baseline Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory (2005)
Fremont partners with StopWaste and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability to evaluate GHG emissions from City facilities and the Fremont community using a 2005 baseline. 2008
Green Task Force
Fremont’s mayor convenes a Green Task Force of community members who identify 20 ways Fremont could reduce its GHG emissions. The Green Task Force leads to the establishment of the City's Environmental Sustainability Commission.
2011
General Plan 2030
Fremont’s General Plan 2030 incorporates sustainability as the central theme throughout the document and includes both a Sustainability Element and a Conservation Element addressing climate-related policies.
2012
Climate Action Plan (CAP) & Environmental Sustainability Commission Fremont’s CAP sets an ambitious GHG reduction goal of 25 percent from 2005 levels by 2020.
The CAP provides a roadmap forward for achieving communitywide sustainability. To support CAP implementation, City Council establishes an Environmental Sustainability Commission. 2014
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Update (2010)
Fremont partners with StopWaste to complete an update of GHG emissions using the newest calculation methodology, demonstrating a 10 percent decrease in communitywide emissions between 2005 and 2010.
2016
Community Choice Energy
Fremont expands consumer energy choices by authorizing a new community choice energy provider, East Bay Community Energy (EBCE). This effort reduces GHG emissions from electricity use by 10 percent from 2015 levels.
2016
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (2016-2021)
Fremont’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) identifies and assesses the risk of three hazards caused by climate change: drought, extreme heat, and sea level rise. The LHMP includes strategies to address these identified risks.
June 2023 Introduction | 1-7
2017
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Update (2015)
Fremont partners with StopWaste to complete an update of GHG emissions from City facilities and the Fremont community using a 2015 baseline.
2018
Fossil Fuel Divestment Resolution
Fremont adopts a Fossil Fuel Divestment Resolution to divest fully from the fossil fuel sector, commit to a fast and just transition to 100 percent renewable energy, and continue adopting regulations that support the transition to clean energy. 2019
Mobility Action Plan
Fremont adopts a Mobility Action Plan that identifies actions such as implementing transportation demand management plans and improving walking, biking, and transit infrastructure to support multimodal circulation and reduce GHG emissions. 2019
Carbon Neutrality Resolution
Fremont adopts a Carbon Neutrality Resolution, setting a 55 percent reduction target from 2005 levels by 2030 and a goal to achieve long-term carbon neutrality by 2045. 2020
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Update (2018)
Fremont partners with StopWaste to complete an update of the GHG emissions from City facilities and the Fremont community using a 2018 baseline. The 2018 Emissions Inventory highlights that Fremont exceeded the emissions reduction goal established in the first CAP. 2022
Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update
Fremont completes an update to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, which provides guidance on how to meet the demands for future recreational, programming, environmental, and maintenance needs.
2023
Urban Forest Management Plan
Fremont adopts an Urban Forest Management Plan to create a shared vision and roadmap for Fremont's trees that enhances the quality of life in the City.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 1-8 Climate Ready Fremont Co-Benefits
While Climate Ready Fremont is primarily geared towards reducing GHG emissions and addressing climate change-related vulnerabilities within the City, it will also result in numerous “co-benefits” to residents and businesses.
Co-benefits result from the implementation of Climate Ready Fremont measures and provide additional valuable outcomes, such as improvements to local air quality, increases in local green jobs and cost savings, and ecological resource preservation. Co-benefits identified in Climate Ready Fremont, as shown in Figure 1-2, include enhanced equity, air pollution prevention, benefits to health and well- being, improved reliability of critical infrastructure and services, strengthened community resilience, local economic benefits, and resource preservation.
For example, the measure to transition
to 100 percent clean power
consumption (Measure BU-1) will not
only achieve a 17% reduction in
community GHGs, it will also reduce air
pollution through the use of clean
technologies, thereby also improving
the health and well-being of
community members. In addition, it
will improve community resilience
through reducing dependence on
fossil fuels and improve equity by
ensuring that all community members
have access to clean power.
Climate Mitigation and Adaptation
Addressing climate change requires an integrated approach that targets both its sources and its impacts. Efforts that focus on reducing the sources of climate change are commonly known as climate change mitigation, GHG mitigation, or climate action. The focus of climate change mitigation planning is to reduce communities’ generation of GHG emissions and, therefore, minimize their contributions to climate change.
Climate change adaptation or climate change resilience efforts are those that serve to prepare for and reduce harm from future effects of a changing climate. Adaptation planning aims to analyze local climate-related vulnerabilities and enhance community resilience to climate change by developing strategies to respond to and prepare for its impacts.
Figure 1-3 illustrates the relationship between these two facets of climate change planning. State law requires communities to address climate change mitigation in local planning and environmental review processes and climate change adaptation in local long-range planning processes, such as general plans.
3 3 California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. 2020. California Adaptation Planning Guide. Available:
https://www.caloes.ca.gov/HazardMitigationSite/Documents/APG2-FINAL-PR-DRAFTAccessible.pdf. Accessed October 2, 2021.
Figure 1-2: Climate Ready Fremont Co-Benefits
Source: Ascent Environmental, 2023
June 2023 Introduction | 1-9
Figure 1-3: Relationship between Climate Mitigation and Adaptation
Source: CalOES 2020; adapted by Ascent Environmental in 2023 Climate change mitigation and adaptation are both crucial components of comprehensive climate change planning. While mitigation and adaptation are often separate planning efforts, it is important to consider both components within the overall climate action planning process. Many initiatives that focus on climate mitigation and reducing GHG emissions include co-benefits for adaptation and vice versa.
For example, a climate mitigation measure such as reducing water consumption in buildings (Measure BU-13) will reduce the amount of energy needed to transport, treat, and heat that water (reducing GHG emissions) and will also help preserve freshwater and groundwater resources that support the local ecosystem, especially during times of drought (enhancing climate resilience).
Conversely, an adaptation measure such as adopting urban heat island reduction design guidelines (Measure AR-1) that require the use of “cool” infrastructure to help mitigate the impacts of extreme heat events (enhancing climate resilience) will also reduce buildings’ overall cooling demands, thereby saving energy (reducing GHG emissions).
Recognizing the importance and benefits of this symbiotic relationship, Climate Ready Fremont focuses on both climate change mitigation and adaptation to address climate change.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 1-10 Local Climate -Related Impacts
Like many other Bay Area jurisdictions, Fremont is at risk from several climate-related hazards including inland flooding, sea level rise, extreme heat, and wildfires. The frequency of large storm sequences (i.e., atmospheric rivers) over short timeframes is projected to increase, causing flooding events that could affect portions of North Fremont surrounding Coyote Hills and portions of the City’s industrial area west of I-880 and south of Stevenson Boulevard.
4 Permanent sea level rise and extreme tides and storm
surge will result in impacts on low-lying areas in the City by 2050. The daily average temperature is projected to increase up to 3.5 °F by 2050 with approximately 12 to 16 days above 90°F by 2050.5 Fremont has moderate to high wildfire severity zones in many areas of the City. Climate change is projected to result in increased variability in precipitation and may lead to wetter winters and increased vegetative growth in the spring, providing increased fuel loads during wildfire events. The increase in fuel loads combined with the increasing frequency and severity of intense wind conditions will cause fires to spread rapidly and irregularly.
6 In addition, Fremont residents will be impacted by smoke from wildfires outside of the City. Climate Ready Fremont includes adaptation strategies to address these impacts.
Community Engagement and Public Outreach
While climate change is a global challenge, local community engagement and participation in climate action and adaptation efforts is a critical component of the solution. Local action on climate change cannot be achieved solely by one agency; it requires active and ongoing partnerships between residents, businesses, local government, and other organizations and stakeholders. To help inform the development of Climate Ready Fremont, the City actively engaged a cross-section of the community, with the goal of strengthening the implementation of strategies, measures, and actions. Figure 1-4 and 1-5 summarize who City staff heard from and what they heard.
Figure 1-4: Community Engagement Participants and Groups
Source: Ascent Environmental, 2023
4 Swain, D. L., B. Langenbrunner, J. D. Neelin, and A. Hall. 2018. Increasing Precipitation Volatility in Twenty-First-Century California. Nature Climate Change 8:427–433.
5 Four Twenty Seven Climate Solutions. (February) 2017. Fremont Climate Hazard Assessment and Adaptation Options. 6 California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. 2018. Indicators of Climate Change in California.
June 2023 Introduction | 1-11
Figure 1-5: Community Engagement Feedback
Source: Ascent Environmental, 2023
What Comes Next
The next four sections of Climate Ready Fremont include three chapters and appendices.
Chapter 2 provides the foundation for Climate Ready Fremont implementation measures by describing current and forecasted GHG emissions and reduction targets.
Chapter 3 includes the strategies, measures, and actions that will be implemented to reduce GHG emissions and improve community resilience to the impacts of climate change.
Chapter 4 presents a list of priority short-term actions that the City will aim to implement within the first three years of adoption of Climate Ready Fremont.
Appendices include further information on GHG emissions inventories and forecasts and Climate Ready Fremont measure list quantification.
June 2023 Emissions Inventory, Forecasts, & Targets | 2-1 Greenhouse Gas
Emissions Inventory,
Forecasts, & Targets
This chapter provides the foundation for Climate Ready Fremont implementation measures by describing current and forecasted greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reduction targets. It summarizes the City’s standard emissions inventories, presents a forecast scenario of possible future GHG emissions if no local actions were taken (i.e. if all measures within Climate Ready Fremont were not implemented and all existing City climate action implementation efforts were to cease), and establishes targets for reducing emissions consistent with statewide GHG reduction targets and goals for the years 2030 and 2045.
Determining a Baseline for Emissions Reductions
To develop and implement a Climate Action Plan (CAP) that will effectively reduce GHG emissions, local governments must first have a comprehensive understanding of the emissions that are generated by activities within their jurisdictions. This is done by conducting GHG emissions inventories at the community-wide scale as well as at a city operations level. GHG emissions inventories not only provide a snapshot of emissions the community is responsible for within a given year, but they also act as the basis for measuring progress and provide public agencies with a framework to track emissions over time and assess the effectiveness of CAP implementation.
The standard GHG emissions inventory used in the climate action planning process, known as a “production-based” inventory, estimates GHG emissions generated within a defined geographic boundary during a single year. It identifies the sources, activities, and sectors that are producing these emissions and the relative contribution of each, while also providing a baseline used to forecast emissions trends into the future. This differs from a “consumption-based” inventory, which analyzes the emissions related to goods and services that are consumed within a defined geographic territory, Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 2-2 regardless of where they are produced. The emissions captured by a consumption-based inventory in one community would be captured within the production-based inventory of another community.
Therefore, utilizing a production-based inventory for climate action planning purposes helps to define the limits of what emissions a city ultimately accounts for and also prevents the double-counting of emissions across communities. 1
The City has developed several GHG emissions inventories which provide detailed accounting of the sources and quantities of GHG emissions generated from activities within the community for different years. These inventories are used to 1) set reduction targets that are consistent with state objectives and 2) create solutions for reducing GHG emissions locally through the creation of a CAP. GHGs are quantified following methods outlined in the ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) U.S.
Community Protocol for Accounting and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Community Protocol), Version 1.2.
2 Emissions are reported in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e), the standard measurement for the amount of GHG emissions produced and released into the atmosphere. See Appendix A for additional details.
One Metric Ton of Carbon Dioxide Gas
At standard pressure and 59°F, one metric ton (2,205 lb.) of carbon dioxide gas (MTCO2) occupies 117,631 gallons. It would fill a cube 26 feet, 8 inches high.
Source: “Actual volume of one metric ton of carbon dioxide gas” (CC BY 2.0) by Carbon Visuals. https://www.flickr.com/photos/carbonquilt/8228691679
1 While the City will utilize a production-based inventory exclusively for this plan, there is an increasing trend to look at local emissions from a consumption-based perspective as well. Providing insight to consumption habits shows the real impact of the materials used and the resulting waste produced by the local community. In 2016, the University of California, Berkeley’s CoolClimate Network and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District conducted consumption-based inventories for communities throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, which can be accessed here: https://coolclimate.berkeley.edu/inventory. 2 ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability USA. 2019. U.S. Community Protocol for Accounting and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
Version 1.2. Accessed January 26, 2021.
June 2023 Emissions Inventory, Forecasts, & Targets | 2-3 Fremont’s First GHG Emissions Inventory (2005)
The City’s first CAP, adopted in 2012, relied on a 2005 baseline GHG emissions inventory as the first community-wide accounting of Fremont’s emissions. The 2005 baseline inventory estimated community emissions in eight sectors: Residential Building Energy, Nonresidential Building Energy, On-Road Transportation, Off-Road Vehicles and Equipment, Public Transit, Solid Waste, Water Supply, and Wastewater Treatment, as described in Table 2-1 below.
Table 2-1: Fremont Community GHG Emissions Inventory Sectors
EMISSIONS SECTOR DESCRIPTION
Residential Building Energy Residential building energy emissions are associated with the consumption of electricity and natural gas in homes within the City.
Nonresidential Building
Energy
Nonresidential building energy emissions are associated with the consumption of electricity, natural gas, and diesel in nonresidential buildings within the City.
On-Road Transportation On-road transportation emissions are associated with gasoline and diesel fuel consumption from motor vehicles on local and regional roadways.
Off-Road Vehicles and
Equipment*
Off-road emissions are associated with gasoline and diesel fuel use from construction and mining, entertainment, industrial, lawn and garden, commercial, and recreational equipment, as well as railyard operations and transportation refrigeration units.
Public Transit Public transit emissions are associated with the consumption of electricity for passenger miles ridden on BART trains by residents.
Solid Waste Solid waste emissions are associated with the decomposition of community-generated mixed and organic waste in landfills.
Water Supply Water emissions are associated with the electricity used to supply, convey, treat, and distribute water in the City.
Wastewater Treatment Wastewater treatment emissions include process and fugitive emissions, stationary emissions from the combustion of digester gas, and energy- related emissions.
*The Off-Road Vehicles and Equipment sector was not included in the original 2005 inventory that was incorporated into the City’s 2012 CAP. Climate Ready Fremont adds the Off-Road Vehicles and Equipment sector to the 2005 baseline, 2018 inventory update, and all forecast years using the same methodology.
Source: Ascent Environmental, 2023
When additional GHG emissions inventories were conducted for subsequent years, the 2005 baseline emissions inventory was revised to reflect the most current methodology and to account for more accurate sources of data where available. Based on the most recent modeling conducted for the revised baseline inventory, community activities in the City generated 1,634,965 MTCO2e in 2005. The largest emissions-generating sectors included on-road transportation, nonresidential building energy, and residential building energy.
The City’s 2005 baseline emissions by sector are presented alongside the 2018 inventory (discussed on the next page) in Table 2-3 and Figure 2-3.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 2-4 Fremont’s Most Recent GHG Emissions Inventory (2018)
In preparation of Climate Ready Fremont, the City developed an updated baseline inventory which evaluated community emissions in 2018. While the City completed regular inventory updates for the years 2010 and 2015 in addition to the 2005 and 2018 inventories, Climate Ready Fremont will focus primarily on the total emissions reductions achieved between 2005 and 2018. The 2018 inventory is utilized as the new baseline in this plan for forecasting future emissions for the years 2030 and 2045, as well as for the emissions reduction calculations of Climate Ready Fremont measures presented in Chapter 3.
In general, the organization of the 2018 inventory is consistent with that of the 2005 inventory. Due to improvements in data collection and reporting, the 2018 inventory includes more accurate values in the off-road vehicles and equipment sectors than in past inventories, including emissions from nonresidential back-up generators not accounted for previously. Additionally, the 2018 inventory includes cleaner grid-based electricity offered by East Bay Community Energy (EBCE), which began serving the community in 2018.
3 A 2020
inventory is not being utilized as the baseline of this plan due to emissions anomalies resulting from the economic disruptions of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
As shown in Table 2-2, the 2018 inventory estimates that community emissions were 1,242,786 MTCO2e in 2018, a reduction of 24 percent from 2005.4
Table 2-2: Fremont 2018 Community GHG Emissions Inventory EMISSIONS SECTOR GHG EMISSIONS (MTCO2e) PERCENT OF TOTAL On-Road Transportation 783,601 63.1%
Nonresidential Building Energy 177,163 14.3%
Residential Building Energy 172,974 13.9%
Solid Waste 57,018 4.6%
Off-Road Vehicles and Equipment 46,318 3.7%
Wastewater Treatment 4,135 0.3%
Public Transit 997 0.1%
Water Supply 577 0.0%
TOTAL* 1,242,786 100%
*Totals may not sum exactly due to independent rounding.
Source: City of Fremont, 2020
3 Note: The 2018 GHG emissions inventory serves as the baseline for all emissions reductions calculations of Climate Ready Fremont measures.
The City chose not to conduct a more recent inventory update due anticipated emissions anomalies from the global COVID-19 pandemic. 4 City of Fremont. 2020. 2018 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory.
Passenger and freight
vehicles account for
63% of community
emissions.
Homes and businesses
account for 28% of
community emissions.
June 2023 Emissions Inventory, Forecasts, & Targets | 2-5
As can be seen in Figure 2-1, on-road transportation (passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles) accounts for the bulk of community emissions at approximately 63 percent. Nonresidential and residential building energy usage (natural gas and electricity) each contribute approximately 14 percent of community GHG emissions. Solid waste, off-road vehicles and equipment, wastewater treatment, public transit, and water supply each contribute 5 percent or less of total emissions.
Figure 2-1: Fremont 2018 Community GHG Emissions Inventory by Percentage
Source: City of Fremont, 2020
As shown in Figure 2-2, 1,242,786 MTCO2e is equivalent to driving 267,780 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles for one year, traveling 3.1 billion miles in a gasoline-powered car, or consuming 2.9 million barrels of oil. It would require 1.5 million acres of forest to sequester that same amount of carbon in one year. (As a point of comparison, a total of 2.6 million acres of forest were burned in California wildfires in 2021.)5 Figure 2-2: Fremont 2018 Community GHG Emissions Equivalencies
Source: EPA 2022; adapted by Ascent Environmental, 2023
5 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2021. Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator. Available: https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse- gas-equivalencies-calculator. Accessed October 1, 2021.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 2-6 Emissions Reductions Achieved within First CAP
Evaluating community GHG emissions over time is a crucial element of climate action planning. Tracking and comparing emissions levels allows Fremont to assess where progress has been made and which emissions sources and sectors should be prioritized in planning. A comparison of the City’s GHG emissions by sector in 2005 and 2018 is presented in Table 2-3 and illustrated in Figure 2-3.
Table 2-3: Fremont Community GHG Emissions Inventories
EMISSIONS SECTOR 2005 GHG EMISSIONS
(MTCO2e)
2018 GHG EMISSIONS
(MTCO2e)
PERCENT
CHANGE
On-Road Transportation 865,002 783,601 -9.4%
Nonresidential Building Energy 440,150 177,163 -59.7%
Residential Building Energy 245,222 172,974 -29.5%
Solid Waste 36,256 57,018 57.3%
Off-Road Vehicles and Equipment* 34,988 46,318 32.4%
Wastewater Treatment 7,025 4,135 -41.1%
Public Transit 4,210 997 -52.8%
Water Supply 2,111 577 -86.3%
TOTAL** 1,634,965 1,242,786 -24.0%
*The updated baseline includes the off-road sector, an emissions category not included in the 2005 baseline inventory reflected in the 2012 CAP due to lack of available data and quantification methodologies at that time. **Totals may not sum exactly due to independent rounding.
Source: City of Fremont, 2020
Overall, community GHG emissions decreased by 24 percent between 2005 and 2018 despite increases in population, employment, energy consumption, and vehicle travel. All sectors showed decreases in emissions, except for solid waste and off-road vehicles and equipment, which increased primarily due to a difference in accounting methodology.
Primary Reasons for Emissions Decreases
between 2005 and 2018 Inventories:
• the inclusion of cleaner electricity provided
by EBCE
• improvements in energy efficiencies in the
built environment
• increasing installations of rooftop solar
photovoltaic (PV) systems
• improvements in the fuel efficiency of
internal combustion vehicles
• increasing adoption of hybrid and battery
electric vehicles
Other Differences in Emissions Calculations
between 2005 and 2018 Inventories:
• the inclusion of emissions from
nonresidential back-up generators and off-
road equipment categories
• adjustments in calculation methodologies
(e.g., equations and emission factors)
• differences in data sources between the
two inventory years
Further details regarding differences between the inventories are included in Appendix A.
June 2023 Emissions Inventory, Forecasts, & Targets | 2-7
Figure 2-3: Comparison of Fremont Community GHG Emissions Inventories
Source: Ascent Environmental, 2023
Forecasting Future Emissions
GHG emissions forecasts provide a
modeled estimate of future emissions
levels based on a continuation of
current trends in activity, population,
and job growth, while also accounting
for known regulatory actions by
federal and state agenciesi.e.,
“legislative actions”that are
expected to reduce emissions in the
future. Emissions forecasts provide
insight into the scale of local GHG
emissions reductions needed to
achieve the City’s targets after
applying anticipated reductions from
regulatory actions.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 2-8 Climate Ready Fremont forecasts future emissions for the years 2030 and 2045, which align with the state’s GHG reduction target years established in key legislation and policies, including Senate Bill 32 and Assembly Bill 1279 (see summary on next page). Forecasted emissions are based on a variety of scaling factors for each sector—or activities that occur within sectors in the City—and only account for emissions reductions associated with implementation of adopted federal and state legislation and regulations.
Forecasted emissions are based on growth projections provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the California Department of Finance (DOF). Table 2-4 shows projected growth for population, households, employment, and annual vehicle miles traveled (VMT) for each target year.
Table 2-4: City of Fremont Demographic Forecasts
FORECAST FACTOR 2018 2030 2045
Population 232,685 239,610 283,656
Households 73,467 79,215 89,560
Employment 115,403 110,300 140,683
Annual Vehicle Miles Traveled
Passenger Vehicles 1,309,215,427 1,384,190,409 1,564,511,455 Commercial Vehicles 263,167,145 355,258,854 399,945,546
Source: MTC 2018; MTC 2020; DOF 2020; calculations conducted by Ascent Environmental in 2021
The 2030 and 2045 forecasts are presented together as the “No Local Action Scenario.” The “No Local Action Scenario” represents the absolute minimum emissions reductions that could be achieved by currently adopted state legislation and regulations. It does not account for goals established by executive orders or targets established by federal or state agencies, nor does it factor in the potential reductions from forthcoming legislation that has yet to be written into law. “No Local Action Scenario” is:
• A way to understand how currently adopted
legislation will impact GHG reductions in
the future
• A way to account for future population,
jobs, and housing growth
• A snapshot in time of a future emissions
trajectory if no new climate actions were
implemented
“No Local Action Scenario” is not:
• A forecast based on goals and targets that
have yet to be adopted as law
• A forecast based on forthcoming
legislation
• A forecast based on possible future
technology advances or behavior changes
• A realistic projection of future GHG
emissions reductions trends
Details on how the forecasts were developed, legislative actions applied, and the activity data used to forecast emissions in each sector can be found in Appendix A.
June 2023 Emissions Inventory, Forecasts, & Targets | 2-9 California Climate Legislation and Regulations
Climate Mitigation Legislation
Executive Order S-3-05 (2005) directs
California to reduce statewide GHG emissions to
1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent below 1990
levels by 2050.
Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming
Solutions Act of 2006, establishes regulatory
requirements to reduce statewide emissions to
1990 levels by 2020 and gives the California Air
Resources Board (CARB) the authority to develop
the regulations and market mechanisms
necessary to achieve these reductions.
Senate Bill 32 (2016) codifies into statute the
2030 target of 40 percent below 1990 levels and
places California on a trajectory toward meeting
the goal of reducing statewide emissions to 80
percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
The Climate Change Scoping Plan: A
Framework for Change (adopted in 2008 and
updated in 2014, 2017, and 2022 by CARB)
identifies the approach and framework California
will take to meet its GHG reduction targets.
Assembly Bill 1279 (2022) requires California
to achieve net zero GHG emissions as soon as
possible but no later than 2045, to achieve and
maintain net negative GHG emissions thereafter,
and to ensure that by 2045 anthropogenic GHG
emissions are reduced by at least 85 percent
below 1990 levels.
Climate Adaptation Legislation
In response to Executive Order S-13-08
(2008), the California Natural Resources
Agency (CNRA) releases the State’s first
adaptation plan as the 2009 California
Climate Adaptation Strategy, summarizing
climate change impacts and recommending
adaptation strategies. The 2014 update,
entitled Safeguarding California, builds
upon the 2009 plan while addressing gaps in
the state’s preparation for climate risks.
Assembly Bill 1482 (2015) requires that the
California Climate Adaptation Strategy be
updated by July 1, 2017, and every three years
thereafter.
Senate Bill 246 (2015) directs the California
Governor’s Office of Planning and Research
(OPR) to establish the Integrated Climate
Adaptation and Resilience Program
(ICARP) to coordinate regional and local
climate adaptation efforts with State
strategies. The updated California
Adaptation Planning Guide was released in
2020.
Senate Bill 379 (2015) requires cities and
counties to integrate climate change
vulnerability, adaptation strategies, and
emergency response strategies into the safety
element of their general plans.
June 2023 Emissions Inventory, Forecasts, & Targets | 2-9
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 2-10 “No Local Action Scenario” Emissions Forecast
The “No Local Action Scenario” is included below in Table 2-5. According to this forecast, City’s emissions would decrease by 13 percent between 2018 and 2045, despite increases in population of 22 percent during that same time period.
Table 2-5: Fremont 2018 Baseline Inventory and “No Local Action Scenario” Forecast
EMISSIONS SECTOR
Baseline Inventory “No Local Action Scenario” Forecast 2018 (MTCO2e) 2030 (MTCO2e) 2045 (MTCO2e)
On-Road Transportation 783,601 670,547 680,791
Nonresidential Building Energy 177,163 133,693 134,984 Residential Building Energy 172,974 157,096 147,281
Solid Waste 57,018 33,934 40,172
Off-Road Vehicles and Equipment 46,318 53,251 68,442
Wastewater Treatment 4,135 3,741 3,686
Public Transit 997 1,027 1,216
Water Supply 577 128 0
TOTAL* 1,242,786 1,053,414 1,076,571
*Totals may not sum exactly due to independent rounding.
Source: Ascent Environmental, 2021
Figure 2-4: Fremont Community GHG Emissions by Sector – “No Local Action Scenario” Forecast
Source: Ascent Environmental, 2023
June 2023 Emissions Inventory, Forecasts, & Targets | 2-11 Establishing Emissions Reductions Targets
Alignment with State Carbon Neutrality Targets
The emissions reduction targets in Climate Ready Fremont have been established to be consistent with statewide GHG emissions targets. As directed by Senate Bill 32 (2016) and Assembly Bill 1279 (2022), the State aims to:
• Reduce annual GHG emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, • Achieve net zero GHG emissions6 (i.e. carbon neutrality) no later than 2045, • Achieve and maintain net negative GHG emissions thereafter, and • Reduce statewide anthropogenic GHG emissions7 to 85 percent below 1990 levels by 2045.
The State’s 2030 and 2045 targets are in line with the scientifically established levels needed to limit the rise in global temperature to no more than 2 degrees Celsius (°C) | 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) above pre-industrial levels. A 2°C rise in global temperature is the warming threshold at which major climate disruptions, such as super droughts and rising sea levels, are projected. These targets also pursue efforts to limit the global temperature increase even further to no more than 1.5°C | 2.7°F, in alignment with the goals of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) Paris Agreement of 2015.
8 Fremont’s Carbon Neutrality Goal
The City’s 2030 target and 2045 carbon neutrality goal expressed in Fremont City Council Resolution 2019-03 are in alignment with the GHG emissions reduction targets of the State. GHG reduction targets for Climate Ready Fremont were developed relative to the City’s updated 2018 baseline emissions inventory, consistent with guidance provided by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
The City’s community GHG reduction targets for Climate Ready Fremont are as follows:
• 2030 target: 55 percent below 2005 levels (approximately 30 percent below 2018 levels); and • 2045 target: carbon neutrality.
The City’s 2030 target requires annual GHG emissions to be reduced to 875,295 MTCO2e in 2030. The City has adopted a target to achieve carbon neutrality (0 MTCO2e) no later than 2045, consistent with the State’s goal under AB 1279.
Achieving Emissions Reductions Targets
The City has already made progress in reducing its GHG emissions. As of 2018, the City reduced emissions by 24 percent from its 2005 baseline level. To meet the City’s future targets, the City needs to reduce emissions below 2018 levels by another 30 percent by 2030. The amount of GHG emissions reductions required to achieve this target is called the “Local Emissions Gap.” Table 2-6 and Figure 2-5 display the City’s forecasted emissions and targets.
6 Net zero GHG emissions means that GHG emission to the atmosphere are balanced by removals of GHG emissions over a period of time. 7 Anthropogenic GHG emissions are human-caused GHG emissions. This target focuses on the gross GHG emissions to the atmosphere only and not on the balance of GHG emissions with removals (i.e. sequestration) of GHG emissions as the net zero emissions target does. 8 United Nations. 2015. Paris Agreement. Available: https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/english_paris_agreement.pdf. Accessed October 1, 2021.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 2-12 Table 2-6: City of Fremont GHG Emissions Reduction Targets and “No Local Action Scenario” Summary
EMISSIONS 2018 2030 2045
No Local Action Scenario Emissions (MTCO2e) 1,242,786 1,053,414 1,076,571 Target Reduction below 2018 Levels NA ~30%* 100%
Target Annual Emissions (MTCO2e) NA 875,295 0
Local Emissions Gap (MTCO2e) NA 178,119 1,076,571
*The 2030 Reduction Target is 367,491 MTCO2e, or a 29.57% reduction from the 2018 baseline emissions level. [Target Annual Emissions] = [2018 No Local Action Scenario Emissions] – [Target Reduction below 2018 Levels] [Local Emissions Gap] = [No Local Action Scenario Emissions] – [Target Annual Emissions] NA = not applicable.
Source: Ascent Environmental, 2021
Figure 2-5: Fremont Community “Local Emissions Gap”
Source: Ascent Environmental, 2023
Closing the “Local Emissions Gap”
State and federal regulations alone will not be sufficient to achieve the City’s GHG emissions reduction targets and close its “Local Emissions Gap.” The City aims to achieve these reductions through a series of local strategies, measures, and actions that can be implemented both within City operations as well as at the community-scale. The next chapter of Climate Ready Fremont presents the strategies, measures, and actions that have been quantified to close the Local Emissions Gap as well as increase community resiliency to climate change.
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-1 Climate Ready Fremont
Strategies & Measures
Introduction to Strategies and Measures
This chapter includes the strategies, measures, and actions that the City, residents, businesses, and partner organizations will implement to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve community resilience to the impacts of climate change. Collectively, the strategies, measures, and actions identified in this chapter will allow the City to meet its GHG reduction target for the year 2030, while demonstrating significant progress towards the longer-term goal of becoming carbon neutral by the year 2045.
This chapter outlines the 31 strategies that will both mitigate GHG emissions and enhance the City’s ability to adapt to the impacts of climate change. The strategies are organized under the following eight focus areas.
1) Buildings and Energy
2) Infrastructure and Equipment
3) Land Use and Mobility
4) Materials and Waste
5) Natural and Urban Landscapes
6) Adaptation and Resiliency
7) Green Economy
8) Public Participation and Engagement
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-2 Each focus area includes one or more strategies, and each strategy includes one or more measures to reduce GHG emissions and adapt to climate change. Measures may be applicable to the community, City operations, or both. Specific actions are listed under each measure that define the activities, programs, policies, and projects that the City will implement or support to achieve the objectives of Climate Ready Fremont. Chapter 4 provides a “game plan” for the implementation of priority actions within three years of adoption of Climate Ready Fremont. Strategies and measures are by and large intended to reduce GHG emissions and enhance community resiliency. At the same time, the implementation of measures will also result in positive community co-benefits (identified in Chapter 1), including equity, air pollution prevention, health and well-being, infrastructure reliability, community resilience, local economic impact, and resource preservation.
The strategies and measures included in this chapter were based on a combination of factors, including the results of the City’s 2018 GHG inventory and forecasts, robust community engagement, feedback from City staff, and the best available climate action planning guidance.
Figure 3-1 describes the hierarchy and provides definitions of strategies, measures, and actions.
Figure 3-1: Hierarchy of Strategies, Measures, and Actions for Climate Ready Fremont
Source: Ascent Environmental, 2023
GHG Emissions Reduction Quantification Analysis
To prepare Climate Ready Fremont, the City conducted GHG quantification analysis to estimate potential emissions reductions associated with all measures. GHG emissions reductions were quantified for community-wide measures when substantial evidence and reasonable assumptions were available to support calculations. Measures that are expected to reduce GHG emissions but could not be quantified due to a lack of available data or quantification methods are still included in Climate Ready Fremont.
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-3 The total GHG emissions reductions calculated from all quantified community measures is 295,054 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) by 2030. Should Fremont implement all of the quantified measures presented within Climate Ready Fremont by 2030, the resulting local emissions reductions will surpass Fremont’s established 2030 target. The results of the quantification analysis are shown in Table 3-1 below.
Table 3-1: Fremont Community GHG Emissions Quantification Analysis EMISSIONS 2018 2030 2045
No Local Action Scenario Emissions (MTCO2e) 1,242,786 1,053,414 1,076,571 Target Percent Reduction Below 2018 Levels - 30% 100%
Reduction Needed to Meet Target (MTCO2e) - 178,119 1,076,571 Total Reductions from Measures (MTCO2e) - 295,054 741,870 Remaining Gap to Target (MTCO2e) - (116,936)* 334,701
Target Met? - Yes No
Notes: Totals may not sum exactly due to independent rounding. *Indicates target has been achieved with a surplus of reductions.
Source: Ascent Environmental, 2021
If the City implements the GHG emissions reduction measures quantified within Climate Ready Fremont, it will achieve and, in fact, surpass its 2030 emissions reduction target. However, due to limitations in forecasting beyond 10 years regarding new state and federal climate legislation, Fremont is projected to fall short of meeting its 2045 carbon neutrality target. Therefore, as the City moves forward with implementing Climate Ready Fremont, staff will continue to monitor projections and the changing context and update the plan as needed.
Figure 3-2 shows the No Local Action Scenario trajectory in comparison to the City’s GHG reduction targets and the Climate Ready Fremont scenario. This is what emissions would look like if the City did not take any additional action on climate change and there were no additional changes to climate policy at the regional, state, or federal level.
Figure 3-3 shows the community-wide GHG emissions reductions achieved through implementation of the Climate Ready Fremont strategies, measures, and actions that follow, organized by the sectors used for the inventory and forecasts.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-4 Figure 3-2: Climate Ready Fremont Scenario and Targets Compared to No Local Action Scenario So urce: Ascent Environmental, 2023
Figure 3-3: Climate Ready Fremont Scenario by Sector Compared to Reduction Targets So urce: Ascent Environmental, 2023
Public Transit
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-5 Organization of Focus Area Sections
Each focus area, together with its associated strategies, measures, and actions, is presented in the following sections.
Each section begins with a cover page listing the focus area and the strategies within that area.
Strategies serve as the foundation for reducing GHG emissions and strengthening community resilience to climate change.
Each strategy is then presented with the following information. A long-term vision statement is included and summarizes what a 2045 carbon neutral Fremont would look like if the strategy was fully realized.
Information describing the background and context for the strategy is included. The measures—more specific expressions of the strategy—are listed along with their identifying measure code (e.g., BU-1, BU-2). This code corresponds with the detailed list of measures included in Appendices B & C. Measures may be applicable to the community, City operations, or both. The measure’s co-benefits, described in further detail in Chapter 1, are shown as colored icons. These will benefit both Fremont residents and businesses.
The quantified GHG emissions reduction potential for community-wide measures is also presented. These measures were quantified when substantial evidence and reasonable assumptions were available to support calculations. The “Quantified Community GHG Reduction” graphic represents the quantified percentage of emissions reduction expected from a particular measure compared to the total calculated emissions reduction of 295,054 MTCO 2e for Fremont by the year
2030, as shown in Table 3-1. For measures where there is quantifiable emissions reduction potential but it has already been quantified by another measure, the text “GHG reduction captured within Measure XX-X” is displayed; this is to prevent double counting of emissions reductions.
Measures that are expected to reduce GHG emissions but cannot be quantified due to a lack of available data or quantification methods are still included within each strategy. If the “Quantified Community GHG Reduction” percentage is not displayed for a specific measure, the measure has not been quantified.
The specific actions within each measure are shown and grouped into two categories, “Community-Level” and “City Operations.” The actions are specific activities, programs, policies, and projects the City will implement or support to achieve the measure and, ultimately, the objectives of Climate Ready Fremont.
Priority rankings and completion deadlines for the actions are not specified within Chapter 3. For quantified measures, assumptions regarding how measures will be implemented over time and the resulting emissions reductions that those measures will generate at different points of time are included in Appendices B & C. The time it takes to complete each action will vary.
Chapter 4 includes the City’s “Game Plan” for implementing priority actions within the first three years of adoption of Climate Ready Fremont. The City is committed to implementing Climate Ready Fremont and achieving the 2030 emissions reduction target.
Quantification details and full descriptions of each action can be found in Appendices B & C.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-6
BUILDINGS
AND ENERGY
Strategy 1. Clean and
Renewable Power Use
Strategy 2. Building
Electrification and
Low-Carbon Design
Strategy 3. Building
Energy Efficiency and
Demand Management
Strategy 4. Building
Energy Resilience
Strategy 5. Water
Conservation in Buildings
Strategy 6. Waste Reduction
in Building Construction
and Demolition
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-6
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-7
Strategy 1.
Clean and Renewable Power Use
Long-Term Vision: Buildings and operations throughout Fremont utilize 100 percent carbon free power, with many incorporating on-site renewable power sources.
The first strategy within the Buildings and Energy focus area is to use clean, renewable, and locally sourced electricity generated on-site or transmitted through the electrical grid. In 2018, East Bay Community Energy (EBCE), a local community choice energy authority, began operation as the default electricity provider in Fremont, offering low- and no-carbon options for grid electricity. By 2030, EBCE has mandated that it will provide 100 percent clean power across its service territory. Measures within this strategy focus on accelerating the City’s transition to 100 percent clean power through the deployment of on-site renewable energy sources and clean power electricity service plans that are supported by Fremont’s General Plan goals 7-9 and 9-2 to encourage renewable energy use in both private buildings and City facilities.
Measure BU-1: Transition to 100 percent
clean electricity consumption.
Quantified Community
GHG Reduction1
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure BU-1
Community Level
BU-C-1.1 Conduct outreach to residents and
business owners to encourage voluntary opt-up to
EBCE's 100 percent clean electricity service plan
(Renewable 100) and educate them on the benefits
of community choice energy
BU-C-1.2 Adopt a policy establishing EBCE's
Renewable 100 as the default electricity service plan
for all residential and commercial accounts
BU-C-1.3 Require all newly built multi-story parking
structures to have solar generation capabilities
BU-C-1.4 Require the use of solar heaters for all new
swimming pools
BU-C-1.5 Provide incentives for replacing existing
swimming pool heaters with solar versions
BU-C-1.6 Encourage the installation of on-site
renewable energy generation and clean energy
storage systems through education, incentives, and
streamlined permitting and inspection services
City Operations
BU-M-1.1 Continue to opt-up City accounts to
EBCE’s Renewable 100 service plan
BU-M-1.2 Where economically, operationally, and
logistically feasible, develop solar generation capacity at City buildings and facilities
1 Assumes that all electricity consumed by residential and nonresidential customers will be carbon-free by 2030.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-8
Strategy 2.
Building Electrification and
Low-Carbon Design
Long-Term Vision: Buildings and facilities are fully electric, emit zero net emissions during their operations, and have low embodied carbon.
The second strategy within the Buildings and Energy focus area is to upgrade and replace carbon-intensive, fossil fuel-based infrastructure and combustion power throughout the building sector with clean electric power and to implement low-carbon building design practices. Combustion processes within buildings— such as space and water heating and cooking—will need to be replaced with carbon-free alternatives that utilize clean electricity wherever possible. In addition, building construction materials—such as lumber, steel, and concrete—will need to reduce their embodied carbon (e.g., the carbon emissions associated with the extraction, manufacturing, and transport of those materials) in order for buildings to achieve carbon neutrality.
Measure BU-2: Require new residential
construction to be all electric and low carbon.
Quantified Community
GHG Reduction2
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure BU-2
Community Level
BU-C-2.1 Adopt a City reach code that requires new
residential construction to be all electric
BU-C-2.2 Adopt a City reach code that reduces the
embodied carbon in new residential construction
such as through the use of low-carbon concrete
BU-C-2.3 Adopt California Green Building Standards
Code (CALGreen) Tier 2 residential energy efficiency
voluntary measures as local requirements
BU-C-2.4 Work with StopWaste and the Bay Area
Regional Energy Network (BayREN) to develop a
regional program that encourages the use of
building materials that store carbon, such as wood
and repurposed concrete
BU-C-2.5 Encourage new development to use high
albedo material for walls, surfaces, driveways,
parking lots, walkways, patios, and roofing
2 Assumes that residential development built by July 2024 or later will be all-electric.
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-9
Measure BU-3: Require new nonresidential
construction to be zero net energy and low
carbon.
Quantified Community
GHG Reduction3
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure BU-3
Community Level
BU-C-3.1 Adopt a City reach code that requires new
nonresidential construction (excluding industrial) to
be all electric; where full electrification is not
technologically or economically viable, require zero
net energy design and/or consider other potential
mitigation measures
BU-C-3.2 Adopt a City reach code that requires
electric-ready design in new industrial construction
and that requires non-core industrial operations—
such as space heating and cooling and domestic
hot water—to be all electric
BU-C-3.3 Adopt a City reach code that requires new
nonresidential construction to demonstrate
reductions in embodied carbon, such as through
reuse of existing buildings and/or completion of
whole building life cycle assessment (WBLCA)
BU-C-3.4 Adopt California Green Building Standards
Codes (CALGreen) Tier 2 nonresidential energy
efficiency voluntary measures as local requirements
BU-C-3.5 Encourage FUSD and other public
institutions to meet green building standards for
buildings
BU-C-3.6 Work with StopWaste and BayREN to
develop a regional program that encourages the
use of building materials that store carbon, such as
wood and repurposed concrete
BU-C-3.7 Consider providing development
incentives to help offset the costs of building
electrification, zero net energy design, and
reductions in embodied carbon for both new
nonresidential construction and for retrofit projects
BU-C-3.8 Consider providing development
incentives such as reduced fees for industrial sites
that achieve green certifications
3 Assumes that all nonresidential development, excluding industrial development, built in 2026 or later will be zero net energy.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-10
Measure BU-4: Retrofit existing residential
buildings to be all electric and low carbon.
Quantified Community
GHG Reduction4
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure BU-4
Community Level
BU-C-4.1 Establish electrification retrofit
requirements for residential buildings at the time of
substantial building retrofit/renovation or at the
time of gas-powered equipment replacement
BU-C-4.2 Work with PG&E, BayREN, EBCE, and
others to create financial incentives to electrify new
and existing buildings
BU-C-4.3 Provide instant permitting of code-
compliant residential rooftop solar through use of
the U.S. Department of Energy supported
SolarAPP+; explore additional opportunities for
streamlining permitting of residential electrification
projects
BU-C-4.4 Utilize state and federal funding programs
to achieve energy efficiency improvements in
existing and new buildings; consider matching or
enhancing with City incentives where appropriate
BU-C-4.5 Pilot an electrification retrofit program for
select existing homes that are low-income and/or
health-vulnerable to achieve air quality
improvements from methane gas removal
BU-C-4.6 Partner with regional energy agencies to
support contractor training and resident education
on electric appliances and their installation and
maintenance
4 Assumes that 36 percent of existing residential buildings will be retrofitted by 2030.
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-11
Measure BU-5: Retrofit existing nonresidential
buildings to be all electric and low carbon.
Quantified Community
GHG Reduction5
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure BU-5
Community Level
BU-C-5.1 Establish electrification retrofit
requirements for nonresidential buildings at the
time of building retrofit/renovation or equipment
replacement (excluding core industrial equipment);
design requirements to be proportional to the level
of proposed building investment
BU-C-5.2 Require all nonresidential buildings with
loading docks to supply sufficient electrical power
for delivery trucks and associated equipment
BU-C-5.3 Research the feasibility of requiring
electric service upgrades during major retrofits
BU-C-5.4 Partner with EBCE, BayREN, and others to
complete a building baseline study and
decarbonization roadmap for existing nonresidential
buildings
BU-C-5.5 Expand the City's Green Manufacturing
program to encourage zero net energy retrofits of
manufacturing buildings; promote emerging low
energy, low carbon industrial technologies (such as
combustion melting, low-carbon cements, etc.)
BU-C-5.6 Partner with PG&E, EBCE, BayREN, and
others to promote contractor training and
education on electric equipment
Measure BU-6: Require new City buildings
to be all electric and low carbon.
GHG reduction captured within Measure BU-3
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure BU-6
City Operations
BU-M-6.1 Adopt a City policy to require all new City
buildings to be all electric and zero net energy
BU-M-6.2 Encourage use of building materials that
store carbon, such as wood, and require low
embodied carbon materials in new City construction
BU-M-6.3 Utilize clean power options such as
battery storage or hydrogen fuel cell systems for
backup emergency power generation, and seek to
partner with local technology companies and
system providers for clean technology
demonstrations
5 Assumes that 13 percent of existing nonresidential buildings and 10 percent of existing industrial buildings will be retrofitted by 2030.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-12
Measure BU-7: Retrofit existing City
buildings to be all electric and low carbon.
GHG reduction captured within Measure BU-5
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure BU-7
City Operations
BU-M-7.1 Replace fossil-fuel supplied appliances
and equipment with electric alternatives wherever
technologically and economically feasible at the
time of equipment replacement
BU-M-7.2 Develop a policy requiring that
renovations of City facilities include electric
equipment and renewable energy systems
whenever feasible
BU-M-7.3 Pursue internal and external funding
sources, such as state and energy utility grants, to
finance electric appliance upgrades in City facilities
BU-M-7.4 Decommission existing diesel-fueled
backup emergency power generators and replace
with clean power options such as battery backup or
hydrogen fuel cell systems wherever feasible
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-13
Strategy 3.
Building Energy Efficiency and
Demand Management
Long-Term Vision: Buildings are highly energy efficient and incorporate smart energy management systems to balance peak energy loads.
The third strategy within the Buildings and Energy focus area is to implement energy efficiency and demand management systems in buildings to preserve energy resources, increase the climate resiliency of existing buildings, and reduce demand on the local electrical grid. Fremont’s future building stock will consist primarily of existing buildings (i.e., those that are already built today), and new construction will account for a modest proportion of all buildings. Ensuring that buildings conserve energy and reduce their overall power demands will maximize the efficient use of clean electric power resources. This strategy supports goal 7-9 from Fremont’s General Plan, which is to provide cost-effective methods to conserve energy. It also supports goal 9-2, which calls for energy-efficient City buildings and facilities.
Measure BU-8: Reduce energy consumption
in buildings and operations.
GHG reduction captured within Measure BU-1
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure BU-8
Community Level
BU-C-8.1 Partner with PG&E, EBCE, BayREN, and
others to continue to offer and enhance energy
efficiency education, technical assistance, and
incentive programs
BU-C-8.2 Prioritize energy programs and incentives
for renters, low-income households, and vulnerable
community members
City Operations
BU-M-8.1 Implement energy efficiency in City
facilities to reduce energy costs and emissions
BU-M-8.2 Upgrade inefficient lighting on City
streets and within City parking lots, parks, and
plazas and equip them with energy controls
BU-M-8.3 Establish energy conservation protocols
for all building staff, including custodial and
cleaning services
BU-M-8.4 Expand the use of energy management
software and controls across City facilities
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-14
Measure BU-9: Promote building energy
tracking and performance assessment.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure BU-9
Community Level
BU-C-9.1 Collaborate with StopWaste to increase
the number of homes receiving a voluntary Home
Energy Score through BayREN
BU-C-9.2 Investigate requiring energy audits for
nonresidential buildings prior to completion of sale
to demonstrate potential cost savings from energy
efficiency measures and identify available rebates
and incentives
BU-C-9.3 Consider providing incentives or technical
assistance to support low or no cost energy audits
for nonresidential building operators
Measure BU-10: Reduce overall demand
on the electrical grid.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure BU-10
Community Level
BU-C-10.1 Facilitate the adoption of smart grid and
other peak load reduction technologies in buildings,
such as energy management systems and smart
appliances
City Operations
BU-M-10.1 Continue to implement measures to
reduce electricity consumption at City facilities
during peak events (e.g., heat waves), thereby
reducing demand on the grid and the need for the
utilities to import power from highly polluting
sources
BU-M-10.2 Evaluate opportunities and best
practices to reduce peak energy demand and
overall energy use in City operations
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-15
Strategy 4.
Building Energy Resilience
Long-Term Vision: Emergency facilities are equipped with renewable microgrids, and non- emergency facilities incorporate clean backup power systems.
The fourth strategy within the Buildings and Energy focus area is to increase the resilience of the energy sector to the direct and indirect impacts of climate change. Energy resiliency protects buildings from losing power during a grid outage, including rolling blackouts and Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events. This is achieved through decentralizing energy supplies through the development of local microgrids (solar + battery systems + smart controllers) and integration of energy storage technologies (e.g., batteries).
Measure BU-11: Increase the development
of microgrids at emergency facilities.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure BU-11
Community Level
BU-C-11.1 Encourage public service facilities such as
schools, hospitals, and community centers to
develop renewable microgrids
City Operations
BU-M-11.1 Participate in EBCE’s Critical Municipal
Facilities program to procure renewable microgrid
energy systems for City-owned, public-facing
emergency facilities
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-16
Measure BU-12: Expand local clean backup
power availability.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure BU-12
Community Level
BU-C-12.1 Encourage the installation of battery
storage in conjunction with renewable energy
generation projects
BU-C-12.2 Require battery storage readiness design
in new nonresidential construction
BU-C-12.3 Evaluate opportunities for integrating
battery storage readiness in existing homes and
businesses at the time of retrofit and/or in
conjunction with renewable energy generation
installations
BU-C-12.4 Promote discount purchasing programs
(e.g., Bay Area SunShares, EBCE's Resilient Home
program) to encourage residential rooftop solar
plus battery storage systems
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-17
Strategy 5.
Water Conservation in Buildings
Long-Term Vision: Buildings are highly water efficient, employ smart water metering, and use rainwater and greywater as appropriate to conserve freshwater resources.
The fifth strategy within the Buildings and Energy focus area is to efficiently use local water resources. With increasing and more severe droughts throughout California, proper water management is essential for the health of residents and the overall ecosystem. Water conservation can also help save energy associated with the pumping and treatment of freshwater and wastewater resources, thereby reducing GHG emissions. This strategy supports goal 7-4 from Fremont’s General Plan, which is to have a water conservation program consistent with Alameda County Water District’s (ACWD) urban water management plan and the City’s GHG reduction goals.
Measure BU-13: Reduce water consumption
in buildings.
Quantified Community
GHG Reduction6
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure BU-13
Community Level
BU-C-13.1 Establish ultra-low-flow fixture retrofit
requirements for residential and nonresidential
buildings
BU-C-13.2 Continue collaborating with Rising Sun
Center for Opportunity (RSCO) to conduct Green
House Calls that include the installation of water-
saving shower heads and faucet aerators in Fremont
homes
BU-C-13.3 Collaborate with ACWD to encourage
installation of water conservation measures in
existing businesses and residences through surveys
and incentive programs
BU-C-13.4 Collaborate with ACWD as they
implement the rollout of advanced water metering
(AMI) service area wide
City Operations
BU-M-13.1 Evaluate current City water
management strategies and identify opportunities
for water use reduction
BU-M-13.2 Use ultra-low-flow fixtures in existing
and new City facilities wherever appropriate
6 Assumes a 50 percent reduction in indoor water consumption in new development by 2030 and a 30 percent reduction in indoor water consumption in existing buildings by 2030.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-18
Measure BU-14: Increase the capture of
rainwater and use of greywater.
Quantified Community
GHG Reduction7
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure BU-14
Community Level
BU-C-14.1 Adopt a drought-ready ordinance to
require greywater readiness in new residential
construction and alterations
BU-C-14.2 Encourage the use of on-site rainwater
harvesting and recycled water systems
BU-C-14.3 Consult with ACWD in developing
policies and regulations supporting the use of water
conserving strategies, including onsite recycled
water and greywater systems
BU-C-14.4 Encourage the use of rainwater capture
and on-site recycled water for outdoor landscaping
and gardening use as well as non-potable indoor
use in toilets
City Operations
BU-M-14.1 Investigate opportunities for City use of
recycled water, especially within parks and other
landscaping
7 Assumes that 20 percent of households will reuse greywater in 2030, and that those households will reduce their potable water use by 30 percent by 2030.
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-19
Strategy 6.
Waste Reduction in Building
Construction and Demolition
Long-Term Vision: Materials from buildings and other structures that have reached the end of their useful life are repurposed, recycled, and reused for new construction.
The sixth and final strategy within the Buildings and Energy focus area is to conserve natural and manufactured resources by means of the responsible consumption and recovery of products and materials associated with the building construction and demolition. Waste diversion effortse.g. waste prevention and reduction of generated waste through source reduction, reuse, recycling, and compostinglimit GHG emissions by reducing the use of raw materials in new construction, reusing and repurposing materials from existing construction into new construction as much as possible, and responsibly disposing of any deconstruction waste that does occur. This strategy supports goal 9-6 from Fremont’s General Plan, which is to maximize waste diversion and eliminate landfill waste.
Measure BU-15: Increase sustainable materials use and
recovery in construction and demolition (C&D).
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure BU-15
Community Level
BU-C-15.1 Amend the Fremont Municipal Code to
require source separation of nonhazardous C&D
debris and consider increasing the required
diversion rate from 65% to 70%
BU-C-15.2 Consider amending the Fremont
Municipal Code to require new developments to
incorporate a minimum of 15% of recycled materials
into construction
BU-C-15.3 Consider amending the Fremont
Municipal Code to require that all commercial
tenant improvement projects and all residential
remodels also meet the diversion requirement for
nonhazardous C&D waste
City Operations
BU-M-15.1 Phase in higher standards for C&D
debris recycled from City projects over time as
feasible
BU-M-15.2 Encourage the Fremont Recycling &
Transfer Station to obtain certification of its facility from the Recycling Certification Institute (RCI) to
increase certainty and build confidence in the C&D
recycling marketplace
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-20
INFRASTRUCTURE
AND EQUIPMENT
Strategy 1. Clean and
Renewable Power
Infrastructure
Strategy 2. Clean Freight
and Delivery Infrastructure
Strategy 3. Clean
Mobility Infrastructure
Strategy 4. Critical
Infrastructure Protection
Strategy 5. Clean Landscaping
and Off-Road Equipment
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-20
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-21
Strategy 1.
Clean and Renewable Power
Infrastructure
Long-Term Vision: All-electric buildings and transportation modes are supported by an advanced electrical transmission and distribution grid.
The first strategy within the Infrastructure and Equipment focus area is to deploy and upgrade public infrastructure that supports the distribution and use of clean, renewable, and locally sourced electricity across the built environment and transportation sectors. The electrical grid is vulnerable to climate change hazards such as wildfire and intense storm events, and electricity distribution is threatened by increasingly common Public Safety Power Shutoff events. Increasing the use of clean electricity reduces GHG emissions while strengthening community resilience to the effects of climate change.
Measure IN-1: Upgrade infrastructure to support
the transition to 100 percent clean power.
GHG reduction captured within Measure BU-1
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure IN-1
Community Level
IN-C-1.1 Collaborate with PG&E as they
strategically decommission methane gas pipelines
in areas where electrification has been or could be
implemented
IN-C-1.2 In partnership with regional organizations
and state agencies, work with PG&E as they make
key upgrades to transmission and distribution
systems, substations, and other equipment to enable
electrification and renewable energy integration into
the electricity grid
IN-C-1.3 Explore the option of a final phase-out
date for non-industrial methane gas procurement,
infrastructure deployment, and use in Fremont
IN-C-1.4 Consider an ordinance restricting or
prohibiting new gasoline service stations,
encouraging the development of new cleaner and
more sustainable vehicle fueling stations, and
encouraging the transition of existing vehicle fueling
stations to cleaner and more sustainable alternatives
such as clean electricity and green hydrogen
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-22
Strategy 2.
Clean Freight and Delivery
Infrastructure
Long-Term Vision: Local goods are distributed by a highly efficient, zero-emissions medium- and heavy-duty vehicle fleet.
The second strategy within the Infrastructure and Equipment focus area is supporting the electrification of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles used for freight and delivery by preparing electrical charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure and grid capacity for this class of vehicles. This strategy builds upon goal 3-6 from Fremont’s General Plan, which involves supporting the safe and efficient movement of goods to support the local economy with minimal impact on the community.
Measure IN-2: Promote clean and
efficient movement of goods.
GHG reduction captured within Measure IN-3
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure IN-2
Community Level
IN-C-2.1 Assess the potential emissions reductions
achievable by traffic control systems that inform
drivers of existing conditions and route alternatives
IN-C-2.2 Engage with regional transportation
stakeholders to develop policies that support the
California Sustainable Freight Action Plan
IN-C-2.3 Collaborate with East Bay Community
Energy (EBCE) to develop and implement a
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Goods Movement
Electrification Blueprint
IN-C-2.4 Streamline and expedite permitting for
the deployment of direct current (DC) fast chargers
that support medium- and heavy-duty electric
vehicles (EVs) at Fremont-based companies
IN-C-2.5 Encourage incentive programs offered by
EBCE to install infrastructure for DC fast chargers
IN-C-2.6 Support the implementation of the
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Fuel Cell Electric Truck
Action Plan for California developed by the
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnership (H2FCP) and
encourage the installation of public hydrogen
fueling stations in Fremont that support medium-
and heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles
(FCEVs)
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-23
Strategy 3.
Clean Mobility Infrastructure
Long-Term Vision: Carbon-free local travel modes are supported by safe and connected micromobility infrastructure and robust electric vehicle charging capacity.
The third strategy within the Infrastructure and Equipment focus area is supporting clean and efficient multimodal mobility options by deploying electrical charging infrastructure, smart mobility solutions, and bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improvements. This strategy supports goal 3-3 from Fremont’s General Plan which is focused on maximizing the efficiency of the transportation network. This strategy also reinforces the City’s 2019 Mobility Action Plan which includes a goal to shift “drive alone” travel and commuting from 73% to 50% by 2040 by increasing the amount of telecommuting, carpooling, transit use, bicycling and walking. Finally, this strategy supports the City’s new Active Transportation Plan (ATP), which is currently in progress and combines the City’s 2016 Pedestrian Master Plan and 2018 Bicycle Master Plan. The ATP will focus on continuing to enhance transportation infrastructure that creates an encouraging and safe environment for multimodal travel. City priorities for infrastructure investments that promote alternatives to driving include the new Irvington BART Station currently under construction, rapid bus service along the Decoto Road and Fremont Boulevard corridors, and major trail and bikeway projects including the East Bay Greenway Trail, Sabercat Trail, and Dumbarton to Quarry Lakes Trail.
Measure IN-3: Install infrastructure to support
electric vehicle (EV) charging and other
zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) fueling needs.
Quantified Community
GHG Reduction8
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure IN-3
Community Level
IN-C-3.1 Encourage and consider incentives for
existing gas stations and retail centers to add EV
charging and hydrogen fueling stations
IN-C-3.2 Collaborate with EBCE to establish fast-
charging mobility hubs at publicly accessible sites
that support tenants of multifamily properties and
rideshare drivers
IN-C-3.3 Adopt California Green Building Standards
Code (CALGreen) Tier 2 residential and
nonresidential EV readiness voluntary measures as
local requirements
IN-C-3.4 Partner with regional and state agencies
to incentivize EV charging at public facilities, office spaces, retail centers, multifamily residential
properties, and other publicly accessible properties
IN-C-3.5 Partner with regional agencies to expand
the public charging for electric micromobility
devices
IN-C-3.6 Utilize the City’s public communication
channels to share information about existing and
new charging locations
8 Assumes that 29 percent of light duty and 11 percent of medium and heavy duty VMT will be electric by 2030.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-24
Measure IN-4: Increase the use of smart
mobility and modernize transportation
infrastructure as identified in the City’s
Mobility Action Plan.
Quantified Community
GHG Reduction9
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure IN-4
Community Level
IN-C-4.1 Continue to implement all traffic signal
modernization projects as identified in the Mobility
Action Plan
IN-C-4.2 Continue efforts to implement smart
mobility technologies for traffic signals, parking, and shared vehicles (e.g., cars, bikes, scooters)
IN-C-4.3 Seek creative solutions and opportunities
to partner with other agencies and private sector
companies for on-demand shuttle services,
including autonomous shuttles
9 Assumes that traffic signal modernization will reduce passenger vehicle emissions by 7 percent by 2030.
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-25
Measure IN-5: Improve pedestrian
and bicycle infrastructure as identified
in previous City plans and the new Active
Transportation Plan.
Quantified Community
GHG Reduction10
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure IN-5
Community Level
IN-C-5.1 Continue to enhance safe routes to
schools through infrastructure improvements and
student, parent, and school staff education and
engagement
IN-C-5.2 Continue to enhance pedestrian and
bicycle infrastructure to support an increase in these
forms of transportation
IN-C-5.3 Continue to coordinate the planning of
pedestrian and bicycle trail systems with adjacent
city and county agencies and special districts
IN-C-5.4 Continue to implement the All Ages and
Abilities Vision Bicycle Network (Bicycle Network)
presented in the City’s 2018 Bicycle Master Plan,
with a focus on access to and connection between
the Priority Development Areas (PDAs), transit
stations, and employment centers
IN-C-5.5 Explore adding infrastructure for secure
bicycle parking along the Bicycle Network and in
transit-oriented development (TOD) centers
10 Assumes 50 miles of new bike lanes and 45 miles of new pedestrian paths will be installed by 2030.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-26
Measure IN-6: Replace the City's gasoline and
diesel-powered fleet vehicles and other equipment
with low-emission and zero-emission vehicles.
GHG Reduction captured within Measure IN-3
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure IN-6
City Operations
IN-M-6.1 Assess need and current capacity and
continue to add charging and refueling stations at
appropriate City sites to service the fleet's low-
emission and zero-emission vehicles
IN-M-6.2 Replace existing light-duty internal
combustion engine City fleet vehicles with low-
emission and zero-emission vehicles at the time of
vehicle replacement, including vehicles used by
Public Works, Community Services, Community
Development, Police, and Fire
IN-M-6.3 Utilize bicycles or neighborhood electric
vehicles (NEVs) for City operations when practical,
and encourage sourcing from or partnering with
local providers where possible
IN-M-6.4 Educate and encourage City staff to limit
idling when using fleet vehicles
IN-M-6.5 Pilot low-emission and zero-emission
vehicles for medium- and heavy-duty fleet
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-27
Strategy 4.
Critical Infrastructure Protection
Long-Term Vision: Safe, reliable, and resilient energy sources, water resources, and transportation networks protect the community against climate-related disruptions.
The fourth strategy within the Infrastructure and Equipment focus area is to implement climate-smart initiatives that protect critical energy, water, and transportation infrastructure in the City. GHG emission reduction measures alone will only address climate change mitigation; they will not do anything to protect the City from the changing climatic conditions already underway. Protecting and preparing critical infrastructure to be more resilient and adaptive to a changing climate is essential for the health and well- being of the community.
Measure IN-7: Improve energy
infrastructure resilience.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure IN-7
Community Level
IN-C-7.1 Ensure adequate backup power is
available to maintain critical facility operations
during grid outages and other emergencies; for
any diesel generators, ensure that they comply
with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) Tier 4 final emissions standards
IN-C-7.2 Encourage installation of local, climate-
smart renewable sources of energy, decentralize
energy supplies, and increase energy storage
capacity to improve energy independence
IN-C-7.3 Partner with PG&E and EBCE to identify
and protect critical energy infrastructure from
climate hazards including power outages,
flooding, and wildfires
IN-C-7.4 Collaborate with PG&E as they
modernize the electrical grid for variable and
distributed power by upgrading transformers,
lines, and other power equipment; support local,
regional, and statewide coordination efforts that
help to accelerate this transition
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-28
Measure IN-8: Improve water and
wastewater infrastructure resilience.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure IN-8
Community Level
IN-C-8.1 Collaborate with Alameda County Water
District (ACWD), Union Sanitary District (USD), and
Alameda County Flood Control and Water
Conservation District (ACFCWCD) to protect
vulnerable water and wastewater facilities to ensure
an adequate clean water supply during emergencies
and disaster recovery
IN-C-8.2 Partner with ACWD and USD as they
upgrade water and wastewater systems to
accommodate projected changes in water quality
and availability
IN-C-8.3 Reduce reliance on external water supplies
by shifting towards local sources of water such as
greywater, rainwater, air conditioning condensate,
and foundation drainage
Measure IN-9: Protect vulnerable transportation
infrastructure, services, and systems from climate
change impacts.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure IN-9
Community Level
IN-C-9.1 Coordinate with community members,
transportation agencies, and private entities to
identify and protect local and regional
transportation, transit, and active transportation
corridors that are at risk due to climate change
IN-C-9.2 Use the best available science and resilient
design features to improve resiliency in
transportation infrastructure
IN-C-9.3 Modify pedestrian walkways and bus
shelters to provide shading and install other heat-
mitigating materials wherever feasible
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-29
Measure IN-10: Assess local vulnerabilities to
climate change and incorporate climate adaptation
and resiliency into City planning, policies, and
infrastructure projects.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure IN-10
City Operations
IN-M-10.1 Continue to review and update City
maintenance protocols on an ongoing basis to
incorporate best practices for preparing for climate
vulnerabilities, including provisions for flooding,
extreme temperatures, drought, wildfires, and poor
air quality as recommended by the California
Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES)
IN-M-10.2 Utilize research and findings regarding
the local risks of sea level rise from the Alameda
County Flood Control and Water Conservation
District (ACFCWCD), San Francisco Bay Conservation
and Development Commission (BCDC),
Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC),
and Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) to inform the City’s capital planning and
development processes
IN-M-10.3 As part of the City’s Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan (LHMP) update process, perform a
climate risk analysis of City infrastructure including
an evaluation of fire safety, energy and water
resiliency, and flooding; based on this analysis,
incorporate appropriate climate adaptation and
resiliency measures into future capital
improvements as funding is available
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-30
Strategy 5.
Clean Landscaping and
Off-Road Equipment
Long-Term Vision: Landscaping, construction equipment, and backup and mobile power sources have zero emissions.
The fifth and final strategy within the Infrastructure and Equipment focus area is to reduce the emissions and air pollution associated with landscaping and off-road equipment by replacing fossil fueled equipment with clean, low-carbon alternatives. This strategy builds upon goal 7-7 from Fremont’s General Plan regarding implementation efforts to improve local air quality.
Measure IN-11: Reduce emissions and air pollution
associated with landscaping equipment.
Quantified Community
GHG Reduction11
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure IN-11
Community Level
IN-C-11.1 Encourage business owners to replace
gasoline-powered landscaping equipment with
electric equipment
IN-C-11.2 Evaluate a local ordinance that would
ban the use of gas-powered landscaping equipment
IN-C-11.3 Partner with BAAQMD and other
relevant agencies to support the development of a
regional trade‐in or rebate program to replace gas-
or diesel-powered landscaping equipment with
electric alternatives
IN-C-11.4 Support the continued funding and
expansion of the State’s Clean Off-Road Equipment
(CORE) Voucher Incentive Project for zero-emission
off-road technologies
City Operations
IN-M-11.1 Continue to replace gasoline-powered
park maintenance and landscaping equipment with
electric equipment as appropriate
11 Assumes all new landscaping equipment is electrified starting in 2024 and that 60 percent of existing landscaping equipment will be replaced with zero-emission alternatives by 2030.
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-31
Measure IN-12: Reduce emissions and
air pollution associated with diesel fuel
use in off-road equipment and stationary
sources.
Quantified Community
GHG Reduction12
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure IN-12
Community Level
IN-C-12.1 Require new development projects to
use renewable diesel in diesel-powered construction
equipment; ensure that all relevant diesel
equipment complies with the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 final emissions
standards
IN-C-12.2 Encourage the use of electric-powered
construction equipment in all projects requiring City
approval
IN-C-12.3 Require that new backup power
installations consist of low-carbon technologies
such as battery or hydrogen fuel cell technologies
wherever feasible; where diesel generators are
installed, require that they comply the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 final
emissions standards (currently required by
BAAQMD for generators over 1,000 brake
horsepower) and consider opportunities for
supplying them with renewable diesel
IN-C-12.4 Collaborate with the California Air
Resources Board (CARB), the Bay Area Air Quality
Management District (BAAQMD), EBCE, and others
on programs and incentives that support the
development and distribution of low-carbon, less
polluting backup power options and construction
equipment
12 Assumes that 40 percent of construction equipment will use renewable diesel in 2030 and that 40 percent of existing fossil fuel backup generators will be carbon-free by 2030.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-32
LAND USE
AND MOBILITY
Strategy 1. Clean and Multimodal
Mobility and Connectivity
Strategy 2. Sustainable
Land Use Planning
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-32
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-33
Strategy 1.
Clean and Multimodal Mobility
and Connectivity
Long-Term Vision: Walking, biking, and other micromobility options are utilized for short trips; public transit is safe and reliable; carpooling and ridesharing are widely used; and all modes of transit are zero-emissions.
The first strategy within the Land Use and Mobility focus area is to 1) develop and enhance safe, multimodal, accessible, equitable, intelligent, and clean motorized and non-motorized travel options and transit modes, and 2) to enhance community connectivity. Paired with the clean mobility infrastructure measures listed earlier in this chapter, this strategy reaffirms and builds upon the multimodal mobility efforts found within several goals in Fremont’s General Plan: goal 2-1 (reducing parking requirements), goal 3-1 (developing complete streets), goal 3-2 (reducing vehicle miles traveled), goal 3-3 (enhancing accessibility, efficiency, and connectivity), goal 3-7 (adopting parking maximums), and goal 4-2 (encouraging complete neighborhoods and sustainable site design). This strategy also supports implementation of the City’s new Active Transportation Plan—which is currently in progress and combines the City’s 2016 Pedestrian Master Plan and 2018 Bicycle Master Plan—and the City’s Mobility Action Plan.
Measure LU-1: Promote and enhance active
transportation options as identified in the
City’s Active Transportation Plan and Mobility
Action Plan.
GHG reduction captured within Measure IN-5
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure LU-1
Community Level
LU-C-1.1 Update the City’s Bicycle Parking Standards
in the Fremont Municipal Code to follow the
Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals
(APBP) Bicycle Parking Guidelines
LU-C-1.2 Continue to implement the most
progressive safe and complete street design standards
as recommended by the National Association of City
Transportation Officials (NACTO).
LU-C-1.3 Continue to implement the transportation
system improvements of Fremont's Vision Zero
Action Plan to enhance pedestrian and bicyclist safety
LU-C-1.4 Achieve and maintain one hundred
percent public school participation in Safe Routes to
School (SRTS) programs
LU-C-1.5 Continue to raise public awareness of the
available bicycle and trail facilities and programs,
particularly the low-stress bicycle network
proposed by the City’s 2018 Bicycle Master Plan
LU-C-1.6 Promote adoption of personal e-mobility
modes through outreach, education, and incentive
programs from regional agencies, such as the Ride
Electric E-Bike Adoption Program from East Bay
Community Energy (EBCE)
City Operations
LU-M-1.1 Provide amenities for bicyclists such as
secure bicycle parking, showers, and lockers at City
facilities
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-34
Measure LU-2: Reduce vehicle miles traveled
(VMT) and single-occupancy vehicle trips, as
identified in Fremont’s General Plan.
Quantified Community
GHG Reduction13
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure LU-2
Community Level
LU-C-2.1 Encourage ride matching, carpooling,
high-occupancy vehicle lanes, shuttles, preferential
parking for carpools, expanded public transit, and
similar strategies to reduce single occupancy vehicle
trips
LU-C-2.2 Continue to support the use and
expansion of Park & Ride parking lots to promote
carpooling and express bus use, as described in
Fremont’s General Plan
LU-C-2.3 Collaborate with regional transportation
agencies and business networks to provide
information about, and access to, incentives and
services that increase the use of alternatives to
single occupant vehicle commuting, including the
Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program, the Alameda
County Guaranteed Ride Home Program, and the
511 SF Bay traffic information program
LU-C-2.4 Utilize vehicle miles traveled (VMT) (rather
than Level of Service) as the criteria for
transportation analysis under the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for all
development projects in accordance with California
Senate Bill 743
City Operations
LU-M-2.1 Encourage City employees to choose
alternatives to single-occupant vehicle commuting
and advertise these benefits during employee
recruitment
LU-M-2.2 During employee recruitment, advertise
the City's existing incentives and subsidies for
choosing alternatives to single-occupant vehicle
commuting
13 Assumes all new development complies with California Senate Bill 743 and that it achieves a 15 percent reduction in project generated VMT.
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-35
Measure LU-3: Encourage the adoption
of zero-emission passenger vehicles.
GHG reduction captured within Measure IN-3
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure LU-3
Community Level
LU-C-3.1 Continue to promote zero-emission
passenger vehicle incentive and rebate programs
LU-C-3.2 Coordinate with the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission (MTC), Bay Area Air
Quality Management District (BAAQMD), and other
regional planning agencies to develop action steps
and goals to plan the transition to electric vehicles
LU-C-3.3 Partner with regional agencies to develop
and promote EV adoption campaigns targeted at
low-income and disadvantaged communities, such
as BAAQMD's Clean Cars for All Program
LU-C-3.4 Encourage EBCE to offer additional
incentives for EV leases/purchases and/or for the
installation of residential EV charging units
City Operations
LU-M-3.1 Provide preferential parking for
alternatively fueled vehicles at City facilities
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-36
Measure LU-4: Increase transit ridership and
promote transition to zero-emission transit.
Quantified Community
GHG Reduction14
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure LU-4
Community Level
LU-C-4.1 As described in Fremont’s General Plan,
apply street design and development standards
that require transit-supportive facilities such as bus
stop curb extensions, bus shelters, benches,
lighting, sidewalks, and convenient access to bus
stops
LU-C-4.2 Coordinate with regional transit
agencies—including AC Transit, Valley
Transportation Authority (VTA), BART, Capitol
Corridor, and Altamont Corridor Express (ACE)—on
feasibility and timeline for transition to fossil fuel
free transit
LU-C-4.3 Support regional campaigns to increase
transit ridership and user safety and comfort
LU-C-4.4 Work with AC Transit to ensure that bus
stops and shelters are designed to maximize rider
comfort and safety and that they are located in
areas that serve community members most
dependent on public transit such as youth, seniors,
people with disabilities, and low-income
individuals
LU-C-4.5 Promote regional transit agencies'
sustainability achievements to encourage public
transit ridership
City Operations
LU-M-4.1 Continue to explore opportunities for
alternative employee commute options including
ridesharing and bikesharing programs that support
the “last mile commute” from public transit
14 Assumes that a comprehensive expansion of the transit network will result in a 10.3 percent reduction in passenger VMT in 2030, and that BART’s electricity supply will be 95 percent carbon-free by 2030.
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-37
Measure LU-5: Increase implementation
of Transportation Demand Management
(TDM) strategies as identified in
Fremont’s General Plan.
Quantified Community
GHG Reduction15
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure LU-5
Community Level
LU-C-5.1 Develop design standards for streets and
parking lots to accommodate increased pick-up and
drop-off for rideshare passengers
LU-C-5.2 Implement the City's Trip Reduction and
Transportation Demand Management (TDM)
Ordinance and consider updates to the ordinance
that would expand the applicability to additional
businesses
LU-C-5.3 Require new developments, particularly
those within transit-oriented areas and along transit
corridors, to comply with City standards for
pedestrian, bicycle, and transit amenities
LU-C-5.4 Coordinate with Alameda County
Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC), MTC,
and BAAQMD to promote transportation demand
programs to local employers, including rideshare,
vanpool, telecommuting, transit subsidies, showers
and changing facilities, bicycle racks and lockers,
and other incentives
LU-C-5.5 Require employers to provide preferential
parking for carpools
LU-C-5.6 Support the formation of Transportation
Management Associations (TMAs) and other entities
that promote TDM to reduce vehicle trips
LU-C-5.7 Evaluate options to incentivize new
multifamily residential developments to include a
GreenTRIP score in their submittal
LU-C-5.8 Encourage continued support for
subsidized transit vouchers
15 Assumes that the implementation of TDM strategies will result in a 15 percent reduction in passenger commute VMT by 2030.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-38
Measure LU-6: Reduce the amount of parking to
encourage transit-oriented development (TOD)
as identified in Fremont’s General Plan.
Quantified Community
GHG Reduction16
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure LU-6
Community Level
LU-C-6.1 Modify the City’s Zoning Code in
accordance with California Assembly Bill (AB) 2097
to remove parking minimums for new
developments within half a mile of public transit
and consider establishing parking maximums in new
developments
LU-C-6.2 Update parking standards and regulations
to ensure that parking is 1) efficiently designed and
addresses the desire to encourage walking,
bicycling, the use of alternative fuel vehicles, and
public transit use 2) aligns with AB 2097, and 3)
considers changing business patterns, technology,
consumer behavior, demographics, and changes in
vehicle design and technology
LU-C-6.3 Manage the parking supply by
implementing measures such as permit parking,
parking time limits, and metered parking, especially
in high use and transit-oriented development (TOD)
areas
LU-C-6.4 Encourage the concept of shared parking
for land uses where peak parking demand occurs at
different times of the day, thereby reducing the
aggregate number of spaces required
16 Assumes a 10 percent reduction in passenger commute VMT from implementation of parking reduction and management actions by 2030.
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-39
Strategy 2.
Sustainable Land Use Planning
Long-Term Vision: Land use design is strategically urban with low-impact, high-density, and mixed-use development concentrated near public transit hubs.
The second strategy within the Land Use and Mobility focus area is sustainable land use planning. Land use development directly impacts what method people use to travel and how often they travel by that method (i.e. mode share), and therefore has a significant impact on the resulting GHG emissions. By building mixed- use development near transit, new development projects can reduce the need of residents and employees to travel great distances to work, school, home, errands, and other amenities. By evaluating the environmental impact of land use activity over the entire life cycle of a project (i.e. life cycle assessment) the GHG impact of land use decisions can be further minimized. Sustainable land use planning also considers how the impacts of climate change may be experienced more intensely in certain areas of the City and/or by certain segments of the population and adjusts accordingly. The measures within this strategy reaffirm and build upon goal 2- 1 in Fremont’s General Plan, which is to transform Fremont from an auto-oriented suburb into a community with walkable neighborhoods and transit-oriented development.
Measure LU-7: Apply smart growth and
low-carbon land use development principles.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure LU-7
Community Level
LU-C-7.1 Continue implementing transit-oriented
development (TOD) principles at the Fremont,
Irvington, and Warm Springs/South Fremont BART
Stations and the Centerville Train Station and
consider other opportunities such as the Fremont
Boulevard corridor, and look for ways to increase
employment concentrations near regional transit
LU-C-7.2 Promote increased housing density and
diversity in residential zones through zoning code
updates, the permitting process, and development
incentive programs, including allowing for
construction of duplexes, triplexes, and accessory
dwelling units (ADUs) within areas zoned for single-
family homes
LU-C-7.3 Support and encourage low-carbon
development through adoption of land use policies
and regulations that require high efficiency/low-
carbon design, increase density, and reduce VMT
LU-C-7.4 Coordinate with the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission (MTC) and other
agencies to 1) establish a method for analyzing the
life cycle GHG emissions of land use and
transportation planning decisions, and 2) align
regional mode share targets with GHG emission
reduction targets
LU-C-7.5 Ensure that local land use decisions
recognize the opportunities and constraints
presented by the City’s transportation system,
including road capacity, transit availability, and
pedestrian and bicycle mobility
LU-C-7.6 Work with MTC, Association of Bay Area
Governments (ABAG), BART, AC Transit, Valley
Transportation Authority (VTA), and other regional
agencies to implement future transportation plans
and to promote land use decisions that reinforce
regional transportation investments
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-40
Measure LU-8: Incorporate climate
vulnerabilities into land use planning.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure LU-8
Community Level
LU-C-8.1 Evaluate land use designations in areas
subject to flooding from sea level rise to minimize
risk to life and property
LU-C-8.2 Consider establishing “climate hazard
overlay zones” whereby additional layers of zoning
standards would be applied to defined geographical
areas that have been identified as being more
vulnerable to future flooding, erosion, landslides,
wildfire, or severe storm/high wind events,
regardless of the underlying base zoning district
LU-C-8.3 Coordinate with private landowners and
property managers to support the upgrade of
facilities vulnerable to the impacts of climate
change, and consider managed retreat as a long-
term strategy to reduce flood risk associated with
sea level rise
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-41
MATERIALS
AND WASTE
Strategy 1.
Materials Reuse and Plastic Waste
Reduction
Strategy 2.
Managing Recycling and Organics
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-41
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-42
Strategy 1.
Materials Reuse and Plastic Waste
Reduction
Long-Term Vision: Community members reuse materials and products and return them to the supply chain at the end of their useful life whenever possible.
The first strategy within the Materials and Waste focus area is reusing materials wherever possible and reducing the use of single-use disposable products, especially plastic products. This strategy supports and builds upon goal 9-8 in Fremont’s General Plan, which is to continuously educate the public on ways to reduce waste through sustainable purchasing decisions and materials reuse. Rather than a “cradle-to-grave” approach to waste management, this strategy supports the concept of a circular economy where materials are reused for as long possible rather than being discarded in the landfill.
Measure MW-1: Promote responsible
consumption of products and materials
and reduce disposable packaging use.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure MW-1
Community Level
MW-C-1.1 Discourage single-use disposable
consumer products and encourage reusable items
MW-C-1.2 Evaluate an ordinance requiring take-out
food ware and other packaging to be reusable or
compostable
MW-C-1.3 Support and advocate for legislation that
aims to reduce pollution, increase reuse, require
sustainable and circular redesign, and support end
of life management of products and packaging
MW-C-1.4 Develop and support community
education campaigns that encourage residents and
businesses to purchase goods and services locally,
with a preference for using Certified Green
Businesses wherever possible
City Operations
MW-M-1.1 Require containers, take-out food ware,
and other packaging in City food service areas and
at City events to be reusable (wherever possible) or
compostable; provide disposables only upon
request
MW-M-1.2 Prohibit the purchase and use of plastic
water bottles and other single-use, disposable
containers by all City departments
MW-M-1.3 Install water bottle refilling stations in
City buildings and at public-facing City facilities
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-43
Measure MW-2: Encourage repair, reuse, and
upcycling of materials.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure MW-2
Community Level
MW-C-2.1 Promote materials reuse and sharing
through outreach and education, community tool
libraries, maker spaces, fix-it clinics, and material
swaps
City Operations
MW-M-2.1 Continue to support and expand upon
the City’s internal FreeCycle Program for the reuse
of surplus office supplies
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-44
Strategy 2.
Managing Recycling and Organics
Long-Term Vision: Waste materials are responsibly managed through recycling and composting.
The second strategy within the Materials and Waste focus area involves properly managing, recycling, and composting waste materials and organics. Many of the negative environmental impacts associated with goods and materials occur during extraction, production, and transport. The responsible production, consumption, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials will conserve natural and manufactured resources, thereby reducing GHG emissions and other associated environmental impacts. At the same time, proper management of materials helps improve local air and water quality and preserve ecosystems. This strategy supports Fremont’s General Plan goal 9-6 to maximize waste diversion and eliminate landfill waste.
Measure MW-3: Bolster recovery of organic
and recyclable materials and increase landfill
diversion rates.
Quantified Community
GHG Reduction17
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure MW-3
Community Level
MW-C-3.1 Continue to increase participation in
curbside and drop-off recycling programs, reduce
contamination, and identify new opportunities for
items that can be recycled curbside or dropped off
MW-C-3.2 Continue to implement organics
collection for all multi-family dwellings with five or
more units for composting food waste and
compostable paper and encourage multi-family
dwellings with less than five units to subscribe to
organics collection; provide education, audits, and
other technical assistance to multi-family property
owners and managers to increase waste diversion
rates
MW-C-3.3 Implement programs to ensure edible
food generators, food recovery services, and food
recovery organizations increase recovery rates of
edible food
MW-C-3.4 Develop waste reduction and diversion
behavior campaigns in partnership with StopWaste
and other relevant organizations
MW-C-3.5 Partner with Rising Sun Center for
Opportunity (RSCO) to provide information on
recycling and composting that can be distributed to
residents through the Green House Call Program
MW-C-3.6 Increase commercial compliance with
State waste recycling and composting mandates
through outreach and education
MW-C-3.7 Require construction sites to separate
waste for reuse, recycling, and increased diversion
MW-C-3.8 Minimize "upstream" (pre-consumer)
food waste generation through robust community
education and targeted partnerships with food
waste generators and recovery organizations
17 Assumes that landfill diversion rates will increase to 75 percent by 2030.
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-45
Measure MW-4: Support methane
recovery and reuse from organic
sources.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure MW-4
Community Level
MW-C-4.1 Encourage Fremont’s waste collection
service providers to seek new and improved
processing and collection methods as well as new
conversion technologies to increase energy
recovery, adding to existing efforts such as the
landfill gas to electricity and the landfill gas to
Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) plants at the Altamont
Landfill
MW-C-4.2 Encourage development of local and
regional anaerobic digester facilities that use
organic materials such as food, water, and animal
waste to create biogas (a mixture of mostly carbon
dioxide and methane) capable of replacing fossil
fuels for electricity, vehicle fuel, and renewable
natural gas
Measure MW-5: Establish and advance
zero waste targets and policies.
GHG reduction captured within Measure MW-3
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure MW-5
Community Level
MW-C-5.1 Update the Fremont Municipal Code to
align with the statewide Short-Lived Climate
Pollutant Policy (established by California Senate Bill 1383) to reduce the disposal of organic waste in
landfills, including edible food
MW-C-5.2 Continue to pursue development of a
citywide zero waste policy and/or high diversion
plan
City Operations
MW-M-5.1 Develop a zero waste action plan for
City operations
MW-M-5.2 Develop a City sustainable events policy,
including requirements for reusable food ware and
zero waste at City events
MW-M-5.3 Conduct periodic audits of City facilities
to identify opportunities for increased waste
diversion
MW-M-5.4 Ensure that City facilities have the
access or capability to compost food scraps
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-46
NATURAL AND
URBAN LANDSCAPES
Strategy 1. Carbon
Sequestration
Strategy 2. Green
Infrastructure
Strategy 3. Water Conservation
in Landscapes
Strategy 4. Habitat Restoration and
Biodiversity
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-46
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-47
Strategy 1.
Carbon Sequestration
Long-Term Vision: A robust urban forest, well-managed wetlands, and healthy soils aid in drawing down carbon pollution from the atmosphere.
The first strategy within the Natural and Urban Landscapes focus area is to drawdown carbon dioxide and other GHGs from the atmosphere through ecological methods, capture it, and store it in plants, soils, water systems, and other solid forms. Measures that enhance the local ecosystem’s ability to sequester carbon through trees, soils, and wetlands will help the City move closer toward achieving the goals of Climate Ready Fremont and ultimately carbon neutrality.
Measure NL-1: Increase soil carbon content.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure NL-1
Community Level
NL-C-1.1 Encourage development projects to use
locally produced compost and mulch for
landscaping to sequester carbon and assist with soil
water retention, erosion control, and weed
abatement
NL-C-1.2 Require contractors to procure and use
compost to meet the California Water Efficient
Landscape Ordinance (WELO) requirements in new
and renovated landscapes
NL-C-1.3 Support the establishment of compost
distribution hubs that provide access to compost for
urban farms, community organizations, and
individuals growing food
City Operations
NL-M-1.1 Regularly apply locally produced
compost and mulch to City landscapes to sequester
carbon and assist with soil water retention, erosion
control, and weed abatement
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-48
Measure NL-2: Increase the carbon sequestration
potential of the City’s bayfront and bayland areas.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure NL-2
Community Level
NL-C-2.1 Support the development of a regional
approach to aquatic sequestration in the San Francisco
Bay by 2030 in collaboration with the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority (SFBRA), San Francisco Bay Area
Conservancy Program (SFBACP), San Francisco Bay
Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC),
San Francisco Bay Joint Venture (SFBJV), and other
regional groups involved in wetlands restoration
Measure NL-3: Implement the City's Urban Forest
Management Plan.
Quantified Community
GHG Reduction18
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure NL-3
Community Level
NL-C-3.1 Continue to implement the residential
tree planting, replacement, and maintenance
program for single-family homeowners
NL-C-3.2 Protect, maintain, and enhance the City’s
existing urban forest and maintain healthy tree
resources within the City
NL-C-3.3 Encourage planting native tree species in
new development and redevelopment, replacing
trees when proposed for removal, and planting
trees to shade buildings and reduce energy
requirements
NL-C-3.4 Track and increase the diversity of urban
tree species, with an emphasis on native and
drought-tolerant trees
NL-C-3.5 Identify priority areas to expand urban
tree and vegetation planting, prioritizing tree
planting in low-canopy corridors and in
neighborhoods with increased risk of heat and/or
air pollution
NL-C-3.6 Engage landscape companies, gardeners,
nurseries, and other key stakeholders on the climate
advantages of specific plant species selection,
including carbon sequestration rates, drought
tolerance, and fire resistance
City Operations
NL-M-3.1 Preserve the existing tree canopy and
increase tree plantings on City-owned land and
right-of-way
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-49
Strategy 2.
Green Infrastructure
Long-Term Vision: Green and vegetated spaces support storm water management and reduce the urban heat island effect.
The second strategy within the Natural and Urban Landscapes focus area is to incorporate green infrastructure and ecosystem services into community design to enhance stormwater management, reduce heat stress, increase biodiversity, and support climate adaptation. This strategy supports goal 7-3 in Fremont’s General Plan, which is to protect water from pollutants and meet the requirements of the Municipal Regional Stormwater National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit (MRP).
Measure NL-4: Expand and protect green
infrastructure and biodiversity.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure NL-4
Community Level
NL-C-4.1 Continue to implement the City’s Green
Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) plan to transform
storm drainage system from traditional “gray”
stormwater infrastructure to green stormwater
infrastructure that slows stormwater flow by
directing it to vegetated systems
NL-C-4.2 Develop permitting guidelines and best
practices for green and vegetative roofs that can
reduce runoff flow rates and volume, absorb and
filter pollutants, supply green habitat and nesting
areas, and reduce the urban heat island effect
18 Assumes an increase in total tree canopy coverage to 15 percent of the City’s land area by 2030.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-50
Strategy 3.
Water Conservation in Landscapes
Long-Term Vision: Landscapes are drought tolerant, conserve freshwater resources, and incorporate Bay-Friendly design principles.
The third strategy within the Natural and Urban Landscapes focus area is to efficiently use local water resources. This strategy supports goal 7-4 in Fremont’s General Plan for a water conservation program consistent with Alameda County Water District’s (ACWD’s) urban water management plan and the City’s GHG reduction goals. Implementation of actions that conserve the water used in landscapes will help the City adapt to changing climatic conditions by preserving local groundwater resources and increasing community resiliency.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure NL-5
Community Level
NL-C-5.1 Require drought tolerant, water
conserving, and/or native landscaping in new
development and redevelopment projects
NL-C-5.2 Collaborate with ACWD to implement
water conservation and reclamation programs,
including landscape surveys and incentive programs
NL-C-5.3 Continue to enforce and strengthen as
necessary the City’s Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance (WELO) and standards for the use of Bay-
Friendly Landscaping Requirements (now ReScape)
to reduce outdoor water use in new developments
NL-C-5.4 Require a ReScape rating for all landscape
projects over 2,500 square feet to foster soil health,
conserve water, sequester carbon, protect natural
resources, reduce waste, and prevent pollution
NL-C-5.5 Require weather-adjusting smart irrigation
controllers and/or rain sensors in new development
projects
City Operations
NL-M-5.1 Continue implementing Bay-Friendly
Landscape requirements for civic improvement
projects
NL-M-5.2 Reduce consumption of water in the
operation and maintenance of parks and recreation
facilities
NL-M-5.3 Enhance and expand weather-based
irrigation controls throughout the City's park system
NL-M-5.4 Replace grass with artificial turf in cases
where drought tolerant landscaping would not be
appropriate (e.g., sport fields)
NL-M-5.5 Install drought tolerant landscaping and
apply compost and mulch at City facilities
19 Assumes an 80 percent reduction in outdoor water consumption in new development and a 50 percent reduction in outdoor water consumption in existing development by 2030.
Measure NL-5: Reduce water usage
for irrigation and landscaping.
Quantified Community
GHG Reduction19
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-51
Strategy 4.
Habitat Restoration and
Biodiversity
Long-Term Vision: The local ecosystem provides habitat for native plants and animals and supports biodiversity.
The fourth strategy within the Natural and Urban Landscapes focus area is to restore, rehabilitate, and repurpose degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems and habitats through active interventions and to support wildlife biodiversity. This strategy supports goal 7-1 in Fremont’s General Plan Goal for a thriving natural environment with protected habitat that enhances the biological value of the City and preserves open space.
Measure NL-6: Conserve and protect natural
habitats, ecosystems, and wildlife corridors
impacted by climate change.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure NL-6
Community Level
NL-C-6.1 Minimize impacts to and enhance the
preservation of natural and semi-natural wetland
areas—including riparian corridors, vernal pools,
and their wildlife habitats—through the
development and environmental review process
NL-C-6.2 Work with the Alameda County Flood
Control and Water Conservation District
(ACFCWCD) to evaluate the feasibility of
revegetating watercourses that have been modified
for flood control, erosion prevention, or other
purposes
NL-C-6.3 Partner with regional conservation
agencies and nonprofits to protect local habitats,
enhance local ecosystems, and develop wildlife and
pollinator corridors across the City
NL-C-6.4 Continue to evaluate development within
100 feet of the top bank of riparian areas and water
bodies—including creeks, lakes, ponds, marshes,
and vernal pools—and 200 feet in areas above the
toe of the hill as established by the City’s General
Plan
NL-C-6.5 Continue to manage Fremont’s bayfront
and bayland areas as permanent open space
NL-C-6.6 Identify, preserve, and restore natural
resources—such as wetlands, flood plains, recharge
zones, riparian areas, open space, and native
habitats—as valued assets for flood protection,
water quality improvement, groundwater recharge,
habitat, and overall long-term water resource
sustainability
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-52
Measure NL-7: Restore, rehabilitate, and repurpose
degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems
through active interventions to enhance the natural
adaptive capacity of biological communities.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure NL-7
Community Level
NL-C-7.1 Encourage restoration and preservation
of former extraction areas (mineral/clay quarries
and salt ponds) for open space, wildlife, and
recreation purposes
Measure NL-8: Prioritize nature-based solutions
to improve coastal and watershed resilience
while promoting biodiversity.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure NL-8
Community Level
NL-C-8.1 Maintain and enhance natural shoreline
buffers to protect inland development through
mechanisms such as conservation easements and
establishment of priority conservation areas
NL-C-8.2 Enhance the drought and flood resistance
of soils in publicly managed lands with compost and
mulch
NL-C-8.3 Work with regional partners to build
"living levees" to allow for natural, gradual
transitions along the bay shoreline—from open
water to tidal mudflat, to tidal marsh, to “ecotone”
or transitional upland habitat
NL-C-8.4 Engage with regional partners such as the
San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI), San Francisco
Bay Conservation & Development Commission
(BCDC), and federal entities such as Don Edwards
Wildlife Refuge to increase sediment delivery to
wetlands to protect against sea-level rise
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-53
ADAPTATION AND
RESILIENCY
Strategy 1. Extreme
Heat Mitigation
Strategy 2. Wildfire Risk
Reduction
Strategy 3. Flood Risk
Reduction
Strategy 4. Sea Level Rise
Preparedness
Strategy 5. Emergency
Preparedness and
Disaster Response
Strategy 6. Community
Resilience
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-53
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-54 Strategy 1.
Extreme Heat Mitigation
Long-Term Vision: Cool infrastructure is integrated into urban design to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat.
The first strategy within the Adaptation and Resiliency focus area is to mitigate the effects of extreme heat on the local community. Warming temperatures and extreme heat events are both a result of and exacerbated by climate change. Fremont is projected to experience increased annual average temperatures and additional heat waves over the coming decades. The urban heat island effecti.e. higher temperatures due to increased density of pavement, buildings, and other surfaces that absorb and retain heatcontributes to additional localized temperature increases. Reducing extreme heat through cooling mechanisms will become crucial, as well as ensuring vulnerable populations have resources to manage extreme heat. In addition, local air quality can worsen during periods of extreme heat, especially considering that California’s wildfire season occurs during the hottest and driest months of the year (late spring or early summer to late fall), with wildfire smoke creating increases in particulate matter in the atmosphere (e.g. air pollution) that can be unhealthy or even hazardous to health.
Measure AR-1: Adopt urban heat
island reduction design guidelines.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure AR-1
Community Level
AR-C-1.1 Update “cool surface” regulations to
require that at least 50% of all hardscapes meet
certain criteria to reduce the urban heat island
effect
AR-C-1.2 Develop a spatial map of heat risk to
develop a strategy to retrofit existing roofs and
hardscapes in areas of highest heat vulnerability
AR-C-1.3 Promote the use of cool and vegetative
roofs, installation of shaded parking structures,
selection of light-colored paving, and planting of
trees and other vegetation to help reduce the
urban heat island effect
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-55
Measure AR-2: Protect populations vulnerable
to extreme heat and poor air quality.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure AR-2
Community Level
AR-C-2.1 During and in advance of periods of
extreme heat and poor air quality, continue to
promote Fremont’s Cooling/ Air Quality Centers to
vulnerable populations through the development of
multilingual resources and existing service networks
AR-C-2.2 Continue to coordinate with the Bay Area
Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) as they
monitor air quality and notify the public when there
are elevated levels of air pollution in the region
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-56 Strategy 2.
Wildfire Risk Reduction
Long-Term Vision: Buildings and landscapes incorporate measures that mitigate the risk of damage from wildfire.
The second strategy within the Adaptation and Resiliency focus area is to reduce the risk of wildfires to the local community. Climate change is expected to worsen many of the factors that contribute to wildfire risk through increased intensity of droughts and creating hotter and drier landscapes more susceptible to burning. This strategy supports and builds upon goal 10-4 in Fremont’s General Plan to minimize the risk to life and property resulting from fire hazards. Reducing the exposure of wildfire risk to residents, businesses, and infrastructure is of critical importance.
Measure AR-3: Reduce the wildland-
urban interface (WUI) fire risk.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure AR-3
Community Level
AR-C-3.1 Develop a fire risk assessment for all new
development within fire hazard severity zones or
the WUI
AR-C-3.2 Reduce fire risk in existing development
through building and fire code updates and
enforcement
AR-C-3.3 Promote and implement wildland fire
mitigation measures to reduce WUI fire risk on
public and private property (e. g., vegetation
management, weed abatement, defensible space,
home hardening), and enforce applicable rules as
necessary
AR-C-3.4 Promote awareness and incentives to
help landowners increase defensive space around
structures
AR-C-3.5 Implement wildland fire mitigation
measures to reduce WUI fire risk on public
property (e.g., vegetation management, weed
abatement, fire breaks)
AR-C-3.6 Provide an adequate level of fire service
to protect the City in accordance with Fremont
Fire’s adopted Standards of Cover
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-57 Strategy 3.
Flood Risk Reduction
Long-Term Vision: Integrated watershed management and green infrastructure mitigate the risk of damage from flooding.
The third strategy within the Adaptation and Resiliency focus area is to reduce the risk of flooding to the local community. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of flood events in Fremont. Flooding threatens infrastructure and property, which can pose risks to health and safety. This strategy aligns with goal 10-3 in Fremont’s General Plan to minimize risks to life and property resulting from flooding. This strategy also supports implementation of the 2016 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) to rehabilitate the City’s storm water system. Reducing flood risks protects the community from these hazards.
Measure AR-4: Minimize risks to life and property
resulting from flooding and flood induced hazards.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure AR-4
Community Level
AR-C-4.1 Reduce local flooding through
implementation of low-impact development,
including features such as green infrastructure and
pervious and climate-smart landscaped surfaces
AR-C-4.2 Coordinate with the Alameda County
Flood Control and Water Conservation District
(ACFCWCD) to repair and replace the City’s
stormwater pipelines, pump stations and storm
drains on an ongoing basis to reduce local flooding
of nearby streets, utilities, and buildings
Measure AR-5: Reduce flood and drought risk
through integrated watershed management.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure AR-5
Community Level
AR-C-5.1 Encourage Alameda County Flood Control
and Water Conservation District (ACFCWCD) to
preserve, enhance, and restore the wetlands in creek
and flood control channels and Alameda County
Water District (ACWD) to preserve, enhance, and
protect water recharge areas
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-58 Strategy 4.
Sea Level Rise Preparedness
Long-Term Vision: New and existing developments are resilient to the impacts of sea level rise.
The fourth strategy within the Adaptation and Resiliency focus area is to protect against and prepare for the effects of sea level rise. Areas of Fremont along the bayfront may be impacted due to sea level rise over the coming decades. To better prepare for potential impacts, both existing and new development should be evaluated for risk. City infrastructure must also be considered to accommodate potential flooding due to sea level rise.
Measure AR-6: Evaluate proposed development
in areas of the City subject to flooding impacts
caused by rising sea levels.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure AR-6
Community Level
AR-C-6.1 Sustain and promote open space in
undeveloped areas at high risk of flooding from sea
level rise as a strategy to reduce risk
AR-C-6.2 Implement risk-reduction measures, such
as elevation setbacks and nature-based solutions,
for proposed development in areas that would
otherwise be at risk for flooding, storm surges,
and/or sea level rise
AR-C-6.3 Evaluate building code updatessuch as
requiring raised floor levelsfor new development
in areas that are vulnerable to flooding
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-59 Measure AR-7: Protect existing development
from sea level rise impacts.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure AR-7
Community Level
AR-C-7.1 Evaluate City requirements for stored
hazardous materials and update them as
appropriate to ensure that any stored hazardous
materials are protected from flood zones, rising sea
levels, and tsunami inundation areas
AR-C-7.2 Evaluate vegetative- and soil-based
solutions to improve stormwater filtration and flood
prevention
AR-C-7.3 Evaluate improvements to stormwater
design standards to address backwater effects
caused by sea level rise, including storm surges
Measure AR-8: Minimize risks to life and property
resulting from flooding caused by sea level rise.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure AR-8
Community Level
AR-C-8.1 Maintain sea level rise flood risk and
hazard datasets in the City’s GIS mapping
AR-C-8.2 Continue the City’s participation in the
National Flood Insurance Program
AR-C-8.3 Work with Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) and nearby cities to
update sea level rise flood zone maps
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-60
Strategy 5.
Emergency Preparedness and
Disaster Response
Long-Term Vision: City emergency planning ensures protections against climate-related hazards.
The fifth strategy within the Adaptation and Resiliency focus area is to prepare the community against both natural and human-caused disasters, especially those exacerbated by climate change. This strategy involves preparing for, limiting, learning from, and adapting to the negative effects of climate change through proactive and holistic planning and response.
Measure AR-9: Revise emergency management
plans, programs, and activities.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure AR-9
Community Level
AR-C-9.1 Continue to plan for integration of
persons with access and functional needs (AFN) into
mass care, disaster relief, evacuation, and other
emergency services
AR-C-9.2 Prepare an update to City's Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan (LHMP), including applicable climate
adaptation and resiliency strategies as required
under California Senate Bill 379
AR-C-9.3 Enhance the City's capability to issue mass
notifications via Wireless Emergency Alerts, AC Alert,
Nixle Alerts, and other methods
AR-C-9.4 Coordinate with key public service
providers to develop an energy assurance plan to
support critical operations during and after disasters
AR-C-9.5 Ensure that traffic signals along
evacuation routes are equipped with battery
backup systems
AR-C-9.6 Develop Severe Weather and Evacuation
Appendices to the City’s Emergency Operations Plan
AR-C-9.7 Maintain a dedicated Emergency
Operations Center (EOC) to accommodate efficient
and effective City response in the event of a large-
scale disaster
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-61
Measure AR-10: Ensure emergency management activities
are conducted equitably.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure AR-10
Community Level
AR-C-10.1 Conduct ongoing training for first
responders and City personnel to deal with climate-
exacerbated hazards, including how to better serve
vulnerable populations
Measure AR-11: Improve notification systems for natural hazards to reach the most vulnerable community members.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure AR-11
Community Level
AR-C-11.1 Develop an outreach plan to engage
vulnerable populations to be prepared with
emergency supplies
AR-C-11.2 Promote resident enrollment in hazard
notification networks such as AC Alert
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-62
Strategy 6.
Community Resilience
Long-Term Vision: Resilience hubs provide the community with ongoing access to food, shelter, power, and other amenities during times of emergency.
The sixth strategy within the Adaptation and Resiliency focus area is to increase overall community resilience to better respond to and prepare for the impacts of climate change. This includes ensuring residents have basic needs met such as food security and access to amenities, as well as preparing for emergency events by fostering social cohesion and providing resources.
Measure AR-12: Establish resilience hubs.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure AR-12
Community Level
AR-C-12.1 Develop government-facility resilience
hubs throughout the community that provide
backup power, shelter, and disaster assistance
during extreme climate events and other
emergencies (e.g., heatwaves and poor air quality
days)
AR-C-12.2 Pilot a targeted grassroots community
engagement strategy to create stronger
connections between neighbors to advance climate
and emergency preparedness
AR-C-12.3 Coordinate with local community-based
organizations to activate neighborhood-level
resilience hubs that offer emergency shelters during
extreme climate events and other emergencies, as
well as year-round services and amenities (e.g., food
distribution and workforce development training)
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-63 Measure AR-13: Improve food security.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure AR-13
Community Level
AR-C-13.1 Support the development of farmers’
markets and other venues where locally grown
produce and fresh foods can be sold
AR-C-13.2 Support increased access to local food
for limited income residents through promotion of
food assistance programs/benefits and
collaboration with local farmers’ markets
AR-C-13.3 Support existing community and school
gardens and facilitate opportunities to expand
community growing spaces with a focus on youth,
non-native English speakers, and low-income
residents
AR-C-13.4 Partner with regional organizations to
support organic and regenerative urban agricultural
practices, including community gardens, edible
landscapes, and pollinator habitats
AR-C-13.5 Encourage low-carbon plant-based diets
and develop outreach and tips for residents to
reduce the GHG emissions associated with their
food consumption
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-64
GREEN ECONOMY
Strategy 1. Green Businesses
and Jobs
Strategy 2. Climate Equity Strategy 3. Climate-Friendly Purchasing, Budgeting, and
Financing
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-64
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-65
Strategy 1.
Green Businesses and Jobs
Long-Term Vision: A robust cohort of sustainably minded businesses actively contribute to the local circular economy through materials upcycling and green jobs training.
The first strategy within the Green Economy focus area is to promote green business and green jobs.
Advancing economic development opportunities is a long-standing objective of the City. As part of Climate Ready Fremont, the City seeks to do so in a way that supports the circular economy, provides new green jobs, and promotes green business practices. This strategy supports goal 6-5 in Fremont’s General Plan to promote sustainability in the business sector.
Measure GE-1: Support and encourage circular economy
innovation and business leadership in Fremont.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure GE-1
Community Level
GE-C-1.1 Encourage businesses creating recycling-
based products to locate in Fremont and support
zero waste business development
GE-C-1.2 Partner with local cleantech industry on
used EV battery and solar panel reuse to encourage
market development and materials upcycling
GE-C-1.3 Adopt policies and develop partnerships
that enable clean, local manufacturing of goods that
are designed to minimize wasted resources
GE-C-1.4 Promote the adoption of Fremont-based
clean technologies, including through public-private
demonstration projects and promoting their local
market adoption
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-66
Measure GE-2: Incentivize and promote
green business practices.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure GE-2
Community Level
GE-C-2.1 Promote the development of a clean
technology cluster by continuing specific incentives
such as the “Clean Tech Business Tax Exemption”
GE-C-2.2 Increase the number of Fremont Certified
Green Businesses each year in partnership with the
Fremont Chamber of Commerce to recognize and
promote current participants
GE-C-2.3 Encourage, support, and recognize local
entrepreneurship that aligns with Climate Ready
Fremont goals and focuses on materials upcycling
and re-use for product innovation
GE-C-2.4 Promote green tenant leasing practices
for commercial businesses to align tenant and
landlord co-benefits, utilizing best practices such as
the Green Tenant Toolkit developed by the Business
Council on Climate Change (BC3)
GE-C-2.5 Collaborate with industry associations and
other regional entities to develop recognition
programs, peer learning opportunities, and
technical assistance for outstanding sustainable
business operations
City Operations
GE-M-2.1 Gather and track key sustainability
performance metrics of City facilities and, where
appropriate, certify them as California Green
Businesses
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-67
Measure GE-3: Support green jobs in the City.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure GE-3
Community Level
GE-C-3.1 Support the work of the Bay Area
Regional Energy Network (BayREN) and others to
conduct outreach and training with local contractors
on building electrification and decarbonization
efforts
GE-C-3.2 Partner with local employers, educational
institutions, vocational service providers, and other
community-based organizations to provide
professional development and green jobs training
programs for youth and residents
GE-C-3.3 Partner with local advanced
manufacturers to provide on-the-job training and
STEM learning for youth to encourage green job
growth
group
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-68
Strategy 2.
Climate Equity
Long-Term Vision: Community members experience the benefits of climate protection efforts, especially climate vulnerable and other traditionally disadvantaged populations.
The second strategy within the Green Economy focus area is to advance climate equity. Climate solutions are only effective if they are accessible to everyone. Ensuring an equitable and just transition to a clean energy community requires creative solutions that provide all community members with the resources they need to fully participate while also supporting quality jobs and facilitating the shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.
Measure GE-4: Increase the resiliency of low-income or
otherwise vulnerable housing.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure GE-4
Community Level
GE-C-4.1 Collaborate with Habitat for Humanity, Cal
State East Bay, Rebuilding Together, GRID
Alternatives, and the Cities of Berkeley, Oakland,
and Hayward to perform holistic electrification
upgrades and key repairs to eligible homes through
the Home Electrification Equity Project (HEEP)
GE-C-4.2 Collaborate with PG&E, East Bay
Community Energy (EBCE), and community
nonprofits to create a targeted resiliency campaign
for low-income and climate-vulnerable residents
A
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-69
Measure GE-5: Ensure an equitable
transition to 100 percent clean power.
GHG reduction captured within Measure BU-1
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure GE-5
Community Level
GE-C-5.1 Explore opportunities for residents of
multifamily properties to be able to access local
solar generation, such as through Virtual Net
Energy Metering (VNEM) or community solar
programs
GE-C-5.2 Engage affordable housing property and
asset managers to increase local participation in
energy efficiency and clean energy incentive
programs such as the Bay Area Regional Energy
Network (BayREN) BAMBE program and the California
Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH)
program
GE-C-5.3 Partner with EBCE to offer low-cost
options and incentives for climate-vulnerable
community members to access 100 percent
renewable grid electricity
GE-C-5.4 Promote opportunities such as green
leasing that would enable tenants to secure solar at
their place of residence by overcoming the tenant-
landlord split incentive
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-70
Strategy 3.
Climate-Friendly Purchasing,
Budgeting, and Financing
Long-Term Vision: Climate action implementation efforts are institutionalized into City processes and budgeting.
The third strategy within the Green Economy focus area is to integrate climate-friendly purchasing, budgeting, and financing into the City’s business processes. To ensure effective implementation of Climate Ready Fremont, budgeting and financing mechanisms need to be established so that climate solutions can be appropriately funded and equitably achieved. The City seeks to demonstrate leadership by keeping sustainability at the forefront of purchasing and contracting decisions.
Measure GE-6: Incorporate sustainability best practices into City purchasing decisions and City contracts.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure GE-6
City Operations
GE-C-6.1 Continue to require that the City purchase
recycled content products and, where possible,
purchase products with a higher percentage of
recycled content than the minimum level required by
the City’s Green Purchasing Policy
GE-C-6.2 Update, implement, and monitor the City's
Green Purchasing Policy to align with California
Senate Bill
1383 targets and to incorporate new waste
reduction strategies and programs in response to
innovations in materials and technologies
GE-C-6.3 Establish an interdepartmental green
purchasing training and champions program to
support implementation of green purchasing policies
GE-C-6.4 Pursue opportunities in the City's solid
waste collector contract and Ride On Tri-City
contracts to use alternative fuel vehicles for the fleet servicing Fremont
GE-C-6.5 Require the use of new GHG emission
reducing paving technologies for municipal street
and parking lot pavement projects such as warm-mix
asphalt, higher albedo (reflective) pavement, and low
embodied carbon (recycled content) concrete
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-71
Measure GE-7: Modify the City’s capital planning
and budgeting processes to incorporate priorities
established by Climate Ready Fremont.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure GE-7
City Operations
GE-C-7.1 Include a reference within the Budget
Principles section of the City’s current-year budget
to prioritize projects and programs that reduce GHG
emissions and/or increase resiliency to climate
change
GE-C-7.2 Add criteria to the evaluation process for
the City’s biannual Capital Improvement Program to
prioritize projects and programs that reduce GHG
emissions and/or increase resiliency to climate
change
GE-C-7.3 Prepare a guidance document for
incorporating adaptation to sea level rise into the
City’s capital planning process
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-72
Measure GE-8: Establish financial mechanisms
and pursue outside funding sources to support
the implementation of Climate Ready Fremont.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure GE-8
City Operations
GE-C-8.1 Evaluate existing and potential financial
risks posed by climate change to the City and
recommend strategies to mitigate these risks,
including options for insurance products, real
estate strategy, and other appropriate mechanisms
GE-C-8.2 Explore phasing in a methane gas use tax
or similar strategy for assessing the environmental
costs associated with gas consumption in buildings
GE-C-8.3 Provide necessary funding for municipal
climate and sustainability infrastructure projects,
such as through the City's Capital Improvement
Program or other local revenue enhancements
GE-C-8.4 Pursue grant funding opportunities from
public agencies at the regional, state, and federal
level as well as from private corporations and
foundations to support the implementation of
Climate Ready Fremont measures
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-73
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
AND ENGAGEMENT
Strategy 1. Access to Nature
and Environmental
Stewardship
Strategy 2. Climate Action
Engagement
Strategy 3. Climate Tracking
and Reporting
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-73
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-74
Strategy 1.
Access to Nature and
Environmental Stewardship
Long-Term Vision: Community members enjoy a healthy natural environment and are actively engaged in its preservation.
The first strategy in the Public Participation and Engagement focus area is to ensure that all community members have access to healthy and safe natural spaces and to encourage community environmental stewardship. The American Public Health Association reports that access to nature can reduce levels of mortality and illness, increase levels of outdoor physical activity, provide stress relief, offer a greater sense of well-being, and improve social connection. As community members engage with nature and help enhance the local environment, they improve their health and well-being and become active participants in climate change solutions. This strategy supports the City’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan goal of ensuring that all community members are within a 10-minute walk to a park. It also supports the City’s Urban Forest Management Plan vision for establishing a working group of community volunteers to stimulate and organize tree plantings and maintenance.
Measure PE-1: Ensure availability and accessibility to
healthy, natural spaces and safe outdoor recreation
opportunities for all community members.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure PE-1
Community Level
PE-C-1.1 Collaborate with local and regional
agencies to provide robust trail and park
maintenance to prevent and respond to damage
from climate change effects
PE-C-1.2 Ensure that new urban parks and trail
systems are within walking distance of underserved
populations and that they facilitate connections
between homes and businesses
PE-C-1.3 Evaluate and enhance the availability of
natural and artificial shading features in parks for
cooling during outdoor recreation
PE-C-1.4 Partner with regional conservation
agencies, local community groups, and schools to
map urban biodiversity and promote its expansion
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-75
Measure PE-2: Encourage residents and community
members to act as environmental stewards.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure PE-2
Community Level
PE-C-2.1 Encourage community members to plant
trees on private land
PE-C-2.2 Encourage the creation of community
gardens and private lands by community groups
PE-C-2.3 Consider creating a tree giveaway
event or providing lower-cost trees to the public
through a bulk purchasing program
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-76
Strategy 2.
Climate Action Engagement
Long-Term Vision: Community members are educated on climate science, consulted on climate planning decisions, included in climate action implementation efforts, and empowered to act as agents of climate solutions.
The second strategy in the Public Participation and Engagement focus area is to educate residents and businesses about climate change, its projected impacts, and how individuals can participate in the solutions to climate change. Educating the community on the impacts of climate change can help to inspire local action. According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), environmental education of youth in particular can help create a paradigm shift in solving the climate crisis, as they are projected to experience the impacts of climate change the most and for the longest period of time.
Measure PE-3: Encourage community participation
and ownership of Climate Ready Fremont.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure PE-3
Community Level
PE-C-3.1 Continue to support and expand
participation in the City’s Fremont Green Challenge
residential climate action engagement platform
PE-C-3.2 Partner with the Fremont Unified School
District (FUSD), StopWaste, and other relevant
organizations to offer opportunities for youth
community engagement on climate change,
building upon current youth sustainability
programming and climate literacy curriculum
PE-C-3.3 Formalize a network of partners,
businesses, community organizations, and
volunteers for Climate Ready Fremont support and
implementation efforts
PE-C-3.4 Provide resources to, support for, and
recognition of local, community-driven
sustainability projects and efforts
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Strategies & Measures | 3-77
Measure PE-4: Increase public awareness and participation in climate planning, with a focus on equity and inclusion.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure PE-4
Community Level
PE-C-4.1 Develop a climate preparedness outreach
program focused on local climate vulnerable
populations that provides information on staying
healthy and safe during hazardous events
PE-C-4.2 Raise public awareness of the public health
impacts of climate change through partnerships with
local hospitals, public health institutions, and other
relevant social service organizations
PE-C-4.3 Engage with students and schools to
incorporate climate mitigation, adaptation, and
resiliency into the curriculum
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 3-78
Strategy 3.
Climate Tracking and Reporting
Long-Term Vision: Community climate action targets and progress are publicly reported, and community successes are regularly celebrated.
The third and final strategy in the Public Participation and Engagement focus area is to track the implementation progress of Climate Ready Fremont and to share that progress through various public outlets. Transparency is important for both increasing awareness about the ongoing efforts to address climate change as well as to celebrate the successes of past and ongoing implementation efforts. Solving the climate crisis will require a multifaceted approach from all sectors of society. It will require persistence, creativity, and cooperation. Recognizing significant accomplishments, while at the same time understanding the continued challenges that lie ahead, can help Fremont maintain its focus on becoming a climate ready community.
Measure PE-5: Track climate and sustainability metrics
accurately and transparently for the community.
Specific Actions to Achieve Measure PE-5
Community Level
PE-C-5.1 Establish and track metrics to monitor
progress of Climate Ready Fremont goals and
report data through an online platform, such as a
digital portal or dashboard on the City's website
PE-C-5.2 Include sustainability features within the
City's Open Data Hub, such as displaying solar
installations and electric vehicle charging stations
on City maps
PE-C-5.3 Develop comprehensive qualitative and
quantitative metrics to measure the progress of
Climate Ready Fremont implementation efforts
PE-C-5.4 Regularly report updates and
accomplishments of neighborhoods, teams, and
individuals on the Fremont Green Challenge
platform to the community and highlight their
successes in community outreach efforts
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Implementation & Monitoring | 4-1
Climate Ready Fremont
Implementation & Monitoring
This chapter presents a list of priority short-term actions (nicknamed the “Game Plan”) which the City will aim to implement within the first three years of adoption of Climate Ready Fremont. The priority actions selected for the Game Plan are based on an assessment of the various criteria described on the next page and developed in consultation with the City departments and divisions integral to their implementation. This chapter also discusses how the actions and measures within Climate Ready Fremont will be applied to future development projects and describes the process for assessing and monitoring progress of Climate Ready Fremont to ensure the City is effective in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improving resilience to climate change. Finally, this chapter highlights some of the funding mechanisms available for implementation of Climate Ready Fremont actions—including rebate and incentive programs, grants, financing, and technical assistance.
Implementation Strategy
Effective implementation of Climate Ready Fremont will require ongoing management and oversight. To gauge progress over time, it will also require updates to the City’s GHG emissions inventory. The success of Climate Ready Fremont is dependent on achieving the emissions reductions and resilience improvements targeted by the strategies, measures, and actions identified in Chapter 3. Achieving these goals will require investments and long-term commitments from the City. The success of Climate Ready Fremont implementation will also depend on the participation of residents, businesses, and other stakeholders in the City and region.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 4-2 In developing the list of priority short-term actions for implementation within the first three years of the plan, the City considered a number of criteria, including:
GHG Reduction Potential. Staff utilized the results of the City’s GHG emissions reduction quantification analysis, which was conducted in preparation of Climate Ready Fremont (see Appendices B & C for more details). The greater the reduction associated with the action, the higher the action ranked on this criterion.
Cost-Effectiveness. Staff made qualitative assessments of either City cost-effectiveness or residential and business cost-effectiveness, depending on the applicability of the action. The more cost-effective the action, the higher the action ranked on this criterion. Up-Front Cost. Staff estimated up-front costs for the actions and evaluated whether there were known funding sources to carry them out. Actions with lower up-front costs and known funding sources ranked higher on this criterion.
Technological Feasibility. Staff evaluated whether actions could be implemented using existing technologies, technologies expected to be deployed in the near term, or technologies that are further in the future. Actions possible with current technology ranked highest on this criterion. Current Policies or Ordinances. Staff determined whether existing policies and/or ordinances support the action, including those previously adopted by Fremont or similar communities, as well as those identified and supported by regional and statewide plans such as Plan Bay Area 2050 and the California Climate Change Scoping Plan. Actions supported by existing policies or ordinances ranked the highest on this criterion.
Jurisdictional Control/Ease of Implementation. Staff evaluated whether actions could be taken unilaterally by the City, as part of a partnership between the City and other organizations, or without any City involvement or control. Actions totally within the control of the City ranked the highest on this criterion, followed by partnerships involving the City. Community Support. Staff qualitatively estimated the level of community support for the actions based on feedback received throughout development of the plan. Actions judged by staff to have widespread support ranked higher on this criterion than those projected to face more opposition.
Co-benefits. Staff evaluated whether actions have positive benefits beyond GHG emission reductions (such as equity, air pollution prevention, health and well-being, infrastructure reliability, community resilience, local economic impact, and resource preservation). Those with benefits beyond GHG emission reductions ranked higher on this criterion.
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Implementation & Monitoring | 4-3 The “Game Plan”
The Climate Ready Fremont Game Plan of short-term priority actions is presented in the following table.
The table includes:
• Focus Area and Strategy – the focus area and strategy in which the measure and action are located; focus areas, strategies, measures, and actions are included in Chapter 3 • Priority Short-Term Action – the action that will be implemented; the actions in the table may be more detailed than those in Chapter 3 and may combine a few different actions into one • Related Measure – the measure number associated with the action • Completed Date, Start Date, and/or Target Date – the date when the action was completed, started, and/or is expected to be completed
• Costs/Savings – if applicable or known, the cost to implement the action (including the type of funding that is available or needed) and/or the anticipated savings after it is implemented • Lead and Supporting City Department and Division – the City department and division most responsible for implementing the action and, if applicable, any supporting departments and divisions
Details regarding California Environmental Quality Act streamlining, monitoring and updates, ongoing community engagement, and potential funding sources are included in the sections following the table.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 4-4 Table 4-1: Climate Ready Fremont Game Plan
Focus Area
& Strategy Priority Short-Term Action Related
Measure
Completed Date,
Start Date, and/or
Target Date
Costs/Savings
(if applicable/known)
Lead Dept. & Division/
Supporting
Dept. & Division
BUILDINGS & ENERGY
Clean & Renewable
Power Use
COMMUNITY LEVEL: Adopt a policy establishing East
Bay Community Energy’s (EBCE’s) Renewable 100 as the
default clean power service plan for all Fremont
residents and businesses.
BU-1 Late 2023 to early
2024
For residents, adds
~$5/month to electricity
bill and for small
businesses, adds
~$20/month to bill
∙ Community
Development (CD)–
Sustainability
∙ Economic Development
CITY OPERATIONS: Opt-up to EBCE’s Renewable 100
service plan for all City operations.
BU-1 Completed in 2022;
ongoing tracking
Projected $100k annual
increase in electricity bill
∙ CD–Sustainability
∙ Finance
Building Electrification &
Low-Carbon Design
COMMUNITY LEVEL: Adopt electrification and green
building reach codes for new residential and
nonresidential construction and retrofits.
BU-2
BU-3
Early to mid-2024 ∙ CD–Sustainability
∙ CD–Building & Safety
∙ Economic Development
COMMUNITY LEVEL: Evaluate development incentives
(including development fee reductions) and other
technical assistance for nonresidential developments
and businesses installing zero net energy facilities and other qualifying low-carbon/green features.
BU-3
2024 Reduced development
fee would result in less
income to the City
(financial analyses
needed)
∙ CD–Planning
∙ Economic
Development
∙ CD–Sustainability
∙ Finance
CITY OPERATIONS: Establish an all-electric/zero net
energy design requirement for all new City facilities.
BU-6 Early to mid-2024 ∙ CD–Sustainability
CITY OPERATIONS: Replace existing gas-powered HVAC
units at City facilities with electric-source heat pumps wherever technologically and economically feasible.
BU-7 Begin
implementation in
2024
$9M allocated in 2023/24
Capital Improvement
Program (CIP) for HVAC
upgrades at 13 facilities
∙ Public Works (PW)–
Maintenance
∙ CD–Sustainability
Building Energy
Resilience
CITY OPERATIONS: Partner with EBCE to install
microgrids (solar + battery systems) on City-owned
public-facing emergency facilities, allowing for onsite clean energy generation plus resilient backup power.
BU-11 Contracting and
project planning in
2023; installation in
2024/25
Power purchase
agreement with EBCE to
result in utility bill
savings; $1M in federal
funding secured by EBCE
to support project
∙ CD–Sustainability
∙ PW–Engineering
∙ CD–Building & Safety
∙ Fire–Emergency Services
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Implementation & Monitoring | 4-5 Focus Area
& Strategy Priority Short-Term Action Related
Measure
Completed Date,
Start Date, and/or
Target Date
Costs/Savings
(if applicable/known)
Lead Dept. & Division/
Supporting
Dept. & Division
INFRASTRUCTURE & EQUIPMENT
Clean Mobility Infrastructure
COMMUNITY LEVEL: Adopt a City reach code to
enhance EV readiness requirements for new
construction of homes and businesses.
IN-3 Early to mid-2024 ∙ CD–Sustainability
∙ CD–Building & Safety
COMMUNITY LEVEL: Partner with EBCE to install fast-
charging mobility hubs on public-facing City owned
property serving local multifamily property residents.
IN-3 Project planning in
2023; installation in
2024/25
City provides site access,
and EBCE operates and
maintains mobility hubs
∙ CD–Sustainability
∙ CD–Building & Safety
∙ PW–Engineering
COMMUNITY LEVEL: Continue implementation of the
City’s Mobility Action Plan (MAP), including traffic
signal modernization and mode shift efforts to
decrease driving and increase travel by walking,
bicycling, carpooling, telecommuting, and transit.
IN-4 MAP adopted
March 2019;
implementation
underway
∙ PW–Transportation
CITY OPERATIONS: Replace conventional City fleet
vehicles with electric vehicles (EVs) according to City vehicle replacement schedule; install necessary EV
charging infrastructure to support full fleet conversion.
IN-6 Begin
implementation in
2024
$5M allocated in 2023/24
CIP for EV infrastructure
including any necessary
electrical power upgrades
∙ PW–Engineering
∙ CD–Sustainability
∙ PW–Maintenance
LAND USE & MOBILITY
Clean & Multimodal Mobility &
Connectivity
COMMUNITY LEVEL: Amend Fremont’s General Plan to
replace Level of Service (LOS) with Vehicle Miles
Traveled (VMT) as the criteria used for transportation
analysis under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for all development projects.
LU-2 General Plan
amended June
2020;
implementation
underway
∙ CD–Planning
∙ PW–Transportation
COMMUNITY LEVEL: Continue implementation of active
transportation options, including achieving a robust
level of participation from schools in the Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) program.
LU-1 Targeting 100%
school participation
at a robust level by
spring 2024
∙ PW–Transportation
CITY OPERATIONS: Adopt, implement, and promote a
Hybrid Telework Policy for City employees as well as other existing benefits that support GHG-reducing commute
alternatives such as carpooling, public transit,
micromobility options, and electric vehicle use.
LU-2
LU-3
Hybrid Telework
Policy adopted
April 2023;
implementation
underway.
∙ Human Resources (HR)
∙ CD–Sustainability
∙ PW–Transportation
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 4-6 Focus Area
& Strategy Priority Short-Term Action Related
Measure
Completed Date,
Start Date, and/or
Target Date
Costs/Savings
(if applicable/known)
Lead Dept. & Division/
Supporting
Dept. & Division
MATERIALS & WASTE
Materials Reuse &
Plastic Waste Reduction
COMMUNITY LEVEL: Evaluate the forthcoming model
plastic waste/reuse ordinance being developed by
StopWaste for potential adoption in Fremont.
MW-1 Late 2023 to early
2024
∙ Community Services
(CS)–Environmental
Services
COMMUNITY LEVEL: Partner with Rethink Disposables
(under contract with StopWaste) to offer technical
assistance to food service establishments to adopt
reusables for dine-in situations.
MW-1 Pilot completed
early 2022 (4 sites);
expand in 2023/24
Current pilot funded
through StopWaste and
the City’s Solid Waste
Collection Fees
∙ CS–Environmental
Services
∙ Economic Development
CITY OPERATIONS: Complete a pilot project integrating
reusable food ware options at the Aqua Adventure
Water Park in Fremont; evaluate expanding to other
community-facing City services and programming.
MW-1 Pilot implemented
mid-2022; expand in
2023/24
∙ CS–Environmental
Services
∙ CS–Recreation
∙ Human Services (HS)
Managing Recycling &
Organics
COMMUNITY LEVEL: Develop and implement a plan for
education and outreach, technical assistance, and
enforcement of ORRO/SB 1383 non-compliant
commercial facilities and diversion from large organics generators including edible food.
MW-3 Develop plan in
2023; begin
implementation in
2024
Inspections supported by
StopWaste and the City’s
Solid Waste Collection
Fees
∙ CS–Environmental
Services
∙ City Manager’s Office
(CMO)–Communications
∙ Economic Development
COMMUNITY LEVEL: Update Fremont Municipal Code
to align with the requirements of Senate Bill 1383 and
adopt the countywide Organics Reduction & Recycling
Ordinance (ORRO).
MW-5 Adopted November
2021;
implementation
underway
∙ CS–Environmental
Services
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Implementation & Monitoring | 4-7 Focus Area
& Strategy Priority Short-Term Action Related
Measure
Completed Date,
Start Date, and/or
Target Date
Costs/Savings
(if applicable/known)
Lead Dept. & Division/
Supporting
Dept. & Division
NATURAL & URBAN LANDSCAPES
Carbon Sequestration
COMMUNITY LEVEL: Adopt the City’s Urban Forest
Management Plan; review City ordinances, policies, and
regulations to support the plan’s goals.
NL-3 Adopted March
2023; Evaluate City
ordinances late 2023
to early 2024
Ongoing management
costs unknown
∙ CS–Urban Forestry
CITY OPERATIONS: Regularly apply compost/mulch to
landscapes at City facilities to improve soil water
retention and carbon sequestration properties and
align with Senate Bill 1383 procurement targets.
NL-1 Pilot implemented
in 2022 (3 sites);
expand in 2023/24
∙ CS–Parks Maintenance
∙ CS–Environmental
Services
COMMUNITY LEVEL: Begin tree plantings in targeted
neighborhoods with lower urban tree canopy and in
underserved areas, with a goal of 800 trees annually.
NL-3 Begin
implementation in
2023/24; expand in
2025
∙ CS–Urban Forestry
∙ CS–Environmental
Services
GREEN ECONOMY
Green Businesses &
Jobs
COMMUNITY LEVEL: Collaborate with industry
associations and other regional entities to host green
business events for Fremont businesses to share clean
energy and sustainability best practices.
GE-2 2023-2025 Any costs would be
associated with necessary
upgrades or purchasing
changes
∙ Economic
Development
∙ CD–Sustainability
CITY OPERATIONS: Gather and track key sustainability
performance metrics of City facilities and, where
appropriate, certify them as California Green
Businesses.
GE-2 2023-2025 ∙ CD–Sustainability
∙ CS–Environmental
Services
∙ PW–Maintenance
Climate-Friendly
Purchasing CITY OPERATIONS: Update the City’s Green Purchasing Policy; implement an interdepartmental green
purchasing training and champions program.
GE-6 Policy update mid-
2022; engagement/
training program
2023-25
∙ CS–Environmental
Services
∙ CD–Sustainability
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 4-8 Focus Area
& Strategy Priority Short-Term Action Related
Measure
Completed Date,
Start Date, and/or
Target Date
Costs/Savings
(if applicable/known)
Lead Dept. & Division/
Supporting
Dept. & Division
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION & ENGAGEMENT
Climate Action
Engagement
COMMUNITY LEVEL: Partner with Community Climate
Solutions (CCS), community-based organizations, and
Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) educators and
students to expand participation in the City’s Fremont
Green Challenge (FGC) residential climate action
engagement platform.
PE-3 FGC engagement
pilot implemented
in 2021; expand in
2023-25
City contract with CCS
would cost $52k/year for
20 hours/week of
community engagement
∙ CD–Sustainability
Climate Tracking
& Reporting
COMMUNITY LEVEL: Launch a Climate Ready Fremont
online platform for tracking and reporting key metrics
and action implementation efforts.
PE-5 Late 2023 to early
2024
Explore utilizing City’s
new MyFremont
community engagement
platform; separate
platform estimated at
$10k/year
∙ CD–Sustainability
∙ CMO–Communications
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Implementation & Monitoring | 4-9 California Environmental Quality Act Streamlining
Implementation of Climate Ready Fremont will require that new development is constructed with more sustainable and low-carbon features than existing development. New development projects that are consistent with the growth projections and applicable GHG reduction measures in Climate Ready Fremont are eligible for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) streamlining, per the provisions of State CEQA Guidelines Section 15183.5. Under these provisions, a project that is subject to discretionary review and is consistent with the City’s General Plan growth projections can show consistency with applicable GHG reduction measures in Climate Ready Fremont, and the level of analysis for the project required under CEQA can be streamlined. Furthermore, a project’s incremental contribution to cumulative GHG emissions may be determined not to be cumulatively considerable in such cases.
Climate Ready Fremont is a “qualified” climate action plan which will allow project-specific environmental documents, if eligible, to tier from and/or incorporate by reference Climate Ready Fremont’s programmatic review of GHG impacts in their cumulative impact analyses. Climate Ready Fremont meets the requirements under Section 15183.5 of the State CEQA Guidelines as a qualified plan for the reduction of GHG emissions for use in cumulative impact analysis pertaining to new development projects.
A CEQA guidelines and consistency review checklist that aligns with Climate Ready Fremont will be provided to project developers by staff. This will serve as the mechanism that is used to demonstrate consistency with Climate Ready Fremont and contains GHG reduction measures applicable to development projects that are required to be implemented on a project-by-project basis to ensure that the specified emissions targets identified in Climate Ready Fremont are achieved. New development projects will need to incorporate all applicable Climate Ready Fremont measures to demonstrate consistency. These measures will be enforced as conditions of approval for ensuring that compliance can be confirmed before the project can be implemented.
Monitoring and Updates
The City will begin implementing Climate Ready Fremont measures and actions upon adoption, and data tracking will begin the following year. As measures and actions are implemented, the effects on emissions trends and climate resilience in the City will necessitate maintenance and updates to Climate Ready Fremont to ensure relevancy and effectiveness. Therefore, City staff will need to evaluate and monitor performance of Climate Ready Fremont over time and alter or amend the plan if it is not achieving the desired outcomes. This will include conducting periodic GHG emissions inventories as well as analyzing individual action performance.
City staff will evaluate the performance of each GHG reduction action that has been implemented. This entails monitoring the level of community participation, costs, benefits, effectiveness, and barriers to implementation, as well as actual reductions in activities that result in GHG emissions. By evaluating whether the implementation of an action is on track to achieve its objective, the City can identify successful actions and reevaluate or replace underperforming measures.
City staff anticipates utilizing an online community platform to track and transparently report on Climate Ready Fremont implementation progress. This platform will enable staff to prepare a monitoring report annually that will provide updates on progress, including the status of actions Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 4-10 implemented to achieve GHG reductions and improve resilience as well as other important milestones in the implementation process. As technologies and markets change and the City implements the actions in Climate Ready Fremont, these reports will be used to track progress and identify actions that need to be improved, adjusted, or removed. The report will also be used for periodic presentations to the Fremont City Council and Environmental Sustainability Commission about implementation progress on actions and overall progress towards achieving the objectives of Climate Ready Fremont. The report would also serve to provide transparency and promote engagement with the public for implementation of Climate Ready Fremont.
City staff will also update the City’s GHG inventory on a regular basis. Staff currently utilizes the ICLEI ClearPath tool to conduct community-scale and municipal GHG emissions inventory updates. This tool is available to ICLEI members as part of its annual membership fee, and ICLEI regularly maintains and updates the tool to align with the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories (GPC) and other relevant best practices. Should new tools become available or should regional or state agencies begin offering local governments support with their GHG inventory updates, the City would adjust its approach accordingly.
Finally, the City will provide updates to the plan as necessary to account for any new state or federal legislation that may affect the plan and to focus on GHG reduction measures and actions that may have been difficult to implement previously due to a lack of available technologies or high upfront implementation costs. Any updates will reflect the findings and recommendations of the monitoring reports and inventory updates.
Ongoing Community Engagement
Continued engagement with and active participation by the community is critical for successful implementation of Climate Ready Fremont. As the City implements and monitors measures and actions, engagement with residents, businesses, community organizations, developers, property owners, and other local, regional, and state agencies will ultimately guide measure implementation and promote achievement of Climate Ready Fremont objectives. While a handful of measures will be led solely by the City, many will require partnerships and collaboration.
Effective and long-term climate action and resilience building in the community depends on efforts that continue to change the way individuals interact with the environment. Numerous measures require participation from residents, businesses, and visitors to fully implement, and the City is committed to continuing its outreach efforts through implementation, monitoring, and future plan updates. Many of the measures in Chapter 3 are focused on increasing community awareness and participation in existing programs and connecting the community with new information, tools, funding, and resources.
Fremont is a diverse community, both ethnically and economically. As with all City plans and programs, the City will strive to ensure that all community members are aware of and continue to have the opportunity to provide input regarding the City’s climate action efforts. The City is committed to overcoming any barriers to engagement, such as lack of access to technology and language barriers, to ensure an equitable implementation process.
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Implementation & Monitoring | 4-11 Potential Funding Sources
The City will incur costs to implement the measures included in Climate Ready Fremont. These include initial start-up, ongoing administration, staffing, and enforcement costs. While some measures will only require funding from the City and other public entities, others will result in cost impacts for businesses, developers, and residents. However, implementation of many of the measures will result in substantial cost-savings for the City, residents, and business owners in the long term. The City will be proactive in seeking cost-effective implementation and strategic funding opportunities and developing partnerships to lessen the burden of implementation costs.
Funding to support climate action implementation efforts through the City budget can happen through either the General Fund or the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The General Fund—the City’s primary operating fund—provides the majority of resources for most of the services the City typically delivers, including the public safety, maintenance, and general government functions required to support direct services to the community. The General Fund accounts for the City’s discretionary funding sources (e.g., property tax, sales tax, franchise fees, and business tax) and can contribute to spending on climate-related measures such as energy and water efficiency, waste reduction, building and landscape maintenance, and community engagement efforts.
In addition to the General Fund, the City’s Capital Improvement Program provides investments to improve infrastructure related to the City’s transportation system, parks, and building facilities. Primary funding for these investments comes from development impact fees; funding from federal, state, and regional sources; and ongoing transfers from the General Fund. Also, on occasion, the City Council may approve transfers from the General Fund of unanticipated general revenue or expenditure savings to provide a source of funding for future CIP projects or to augment previously approved projects. The fiscal year 2021/22 CIP programs $189 million over the next five years and includes an unfunded “Clean Energy Infrastructure” project line item, which is slated to receive funding under the fiscal year 2023/24 CIP.
Beyond the City budget, other funding options such as rebates, grants, credits, financing, technical assistance, and green jobs training are available from a variety of outside organizations, including local utilities, regional regulatory agencies, joint power authorities, and state and federal agencies. Below is a summary of potential funding sources that could support climate implementation efforts identified in Climate Ready Fremont. Some of these funding sources, such as utility rebate and incentive programs, have already been utilized extensively to support Fremont’s ongoing climate implementation efforts, while others represent new opportunities for the City to explore. • Voucher, rebate, and direct install programs are offered to residents and businesses by energy and water utilities such as PG&E, East Bay Community Energy (EBCE), and the Alameda County Water District (ACWD) and regional, state, and federal public agencies such as the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), California Air Resources Board (CARB), California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Rebates and vouchers help subsidize the upfront cost of the purchase and/or installation of cleaner and more efficient equipment, and direct install programs will install this equipment directly within a home or a business. Examples of eligible products include LED lighting, energy efficient (ENERGY STAR) appliances, insulation and weather-sealing, heat pump water and space heating, induction stovetops, water efficient (WaterSense) products, battery-storage systems, electric-powered landscaping and construction equipment, zero-emissions vehicles, and EV charging stations.
Climate Ready Fremont | Fremont’s Pathway to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable, and Resilient Future 4-12 • Regional grants and sponsorships are offered by public agencies such as EBCE, StopWaste, and BayREN to residents, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to support waste reduction and energy implementation efforts within the community. Regulatory agencies such as the BAAQMD and Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) also offer grants supporting air quality improvements, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reductions, complete streets, clean transportation, and zero emissions off-road equipment.
• Subsidies for income-qualified residential and disadvantaged communities are offered by utilities and state and federal public agencies for home weatherization, energy and water efficiency upgrades, solar energy systems, and clean vehicles. In addition, state and federal agencies often offer enhanced incentives for efforts that benefit disadvantaged communities, which are geographic areas that are most impacted by a combination of economic, health, and environmental burdens.
• State formula and competitive grants are awarded to public agencies and private entities alike for renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, sustainable agriculture, and recycling. Most of the climate grants coming from state agencies are supported through California Climate Investments (CCI), the state’s cap-and-trade program for projects and programs that work to reduce GHG emissions. • Federal formula and competitive grants have been substantially magnified through two recent federal laws: the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021 (now known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)) and the $737 billion Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. Some of the funding from the IIJA/BIL and IRA will take the form of grants from agencies such as the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to directly support state and local governments with climate implementation efforts.
• Federal tax credits are offered by the federal government for the purchase of new or used zero-emission vehicles (up to $7,500 for passenger vehicles and $40,000 for commercial vehicles) as well as for the purchase and installation of clean energy systems such as solar, wind, geothermal, and battery-storage (30% of the installed system cost). Under the Inflation Reduction Act, these tax credits will remain in place until at least 2032. Previously only available as a credit to residents and businesses with federal tax liability, the IRA also establishes a direct pay option so that nonprofits and government agencies like the City of Fremont can also access these incentives.
• Low- and no-interest government loans—such as PG&E’s On-Bill Financing (OBF) program, IBank’s California Lending for Energy and Environmental Needs (CLEEN) direct loans, and California Energy Commission's (CEC’s) Energy Conservation Assistance Act (ECAA) direct loans—help local governments and schools fund energy efficiency and clean energy projects. • Private clean energy financing programs such as GoGreen Financing and Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) provide financing specifically to residents and businesses for energy and water efficiency clean energy projects.
• Market-based carbon credits such as Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are incentives regulated by state and federal entities that provide direct payments to the owners or producers of low-carbon fuels, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and renewable energy systems on a per ton of carbon reduction basis.
June 2023 Climate Ready Fremont Implementation & Monitoring | 4-13 • Green jobs training and apprenticeship opportunities such as Rising Sun Center for Opportunity’s (RSCO’s) regional Climate Careers Program and the statewide California Climate Action Corps and CivicSpark AmeriCorps Fellowship programs offer youth and young adults opportunities to have hands-on experience implementing climate action within local communities while at the same time earning money. The AmeriCorps supported programs also provide those who complete their fellowships with an educational award that can be used to pay off student loans or to help support future educational opportunities.
Successful implementation of Climate Ready Fremont will require continued funding for capital improvements, increased investments in public infrastructure and community programs, and ongoing support for operations and maintenance. The City will monitor private and public funding sources and will proactively seek funding through rebates, grants, partnerships, and other relevant opportunities to support the direct implementation of measures identified within Climate Ready Fremont.